Herschel Jerome Jantjies (born 22 April 1996) is a South African professional rugby union player for the South Africa national team and the Stormers in the URC.^[1] His regular position is scrum-half.

Quick Facts Full name, Date of birth ...

Herschel Jantjies

Jantjies in 2023
Full name	Herschel Jerome Jantjies
Date of birth	(1996-04-22) 22 April 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth	Kylemore, South Africa
Height	1.66 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Weight	74 kg (163 lb; 11 st 9 lb)
School	Paul Roos Gymnasium
University	University of the Western Cape
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half Current team Stormers / Western Province Youth career 2012–2017 Western Province Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2016– Western Province 26 (25) 2017 → Scarlets 1 (0) 2018–present Stormers 63 (65) Correct as of 22 October 2023 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2019– South Africa 24 (25) Correct as of 22 October 2023
Medal record Men's Rugby union Representing  South Africa Rugby World Cup 2019 Japan Squad

Close

Jantjies was born in Stellenbosch, where he attended Paul Roos Gymnasium. He represented Western Province at Under-16 level in 2012 and at the Craven Week tournaments in 2013 in 2014. He progressed to their Under-19 and Under-21 sides, and made his first class debut in Western Province's match against the Leopards in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series.^[2][3]

He made four appearances as a replacement for Western Province in the 2017 Rugby Challenge, a competition they would go on to win, before reverting to the Western Province U21 team for the latter half of the season. At the end of 2017, Jantjies was drafted into the squad of Welsh side Scarlets on their visit to South Africa during the 2017–18 Pro14 season,^[4] and came on as a replacement in their match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.^[5]

He played in all nine of their matches in the 2018 Rugby Challenge, scoring his first and second tries in first class rugby in a 23–21 victory over the Boland Cavaliers in their Round Three match.^[6] He scored a further try in their match against the Border Bulldogs^[7] as his side progressed to the quarterfinal stage before being eliminated by Free State XV.^[8]

Schoolboy rugby kicked off at his hometown of Kylemore where he attended P.C Petersen Primary from where he graduated to his high schooling career which initially started at Kylemore High School where his excellence was spotted. His constant game-changing performances got the interest from Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch, where he started playing under 14 rugby for the D team. His size counted against him, but once he got game time, he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. At the tender age of 14, he undertook his first trip overseas where he represented a South African invitational side on a postseason rugby tour to Scotland in the UK. Jantjies' rugby master brain scored his constant features at WP Grant Komo and Craven week and constant 1st team starts for Paul Roos in the South African Premiere Schools league.

Jantjies was included in the Stormers' squad for their final match of the 2018 Super Rugby season against the Sharks,^[9] and he came on as a second half replacement to make his Super Rugby debut.^[10]

In July 2019, Jantjies made his debut for South Africa in their opening match of the 2019 Rugby Championship against Australia in Johannesburg, scoring twice in a 35–17 win.^[11] In their next match against New Zealand in Wellington, Jantjies scored his side's only try in the 79th minute to help them to a 16–16 draw for a total of 3 tries in his first 2 games.^[12]

Jantjies was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.^[13] South Africa went on to win the tournament, defeating England in the final.^[14]