Mark Andrews Biography

A natural athlete since his younger days, Mark Andrews was a great talent and sturdy presence in the Springbok pack.

Born in Elliot, Eastern Cape on 21 February 1972, the legendary Springbok showed early on that he meant business. He played in the 1990 Craven Week tournament for Border. He would go on to study at the University of Natal and by 1993 he was playing for the Sharks in the Currie Cup.

Mark Andrews was a Sharks man through and through and stayed there for almost a decade, leaving in 2002 to finish off his career at the Newcastle Falcons in England. During his time at the Sharks he bagged two Currie Cup trophies and reached the final on three other occasions.

He also played for the Durban franchise in Super Rugby but never managed to secure any gold in that competition, reaching the final twice but losing out to the Blues and Brumbies respectively.

At the end of his run with the coastal side, Mark Andrews had accumulated 122 appearances in the Currie Cup, scoring 40 points, while reaching 40 appearances in Super Rugby bagging 15 points.

His time on the main stage came in 1994 when he made his first international debut for the Springboks. He ran onto the field at the age of 22 against England in Cape Town, taking a 27 - 9 win against the northern rivals.

One year later he would be named as part of the Rugby World Cup squad that would go on to change the nation with their emphatic win on home soil. He would feature in the following Rugby World Cup in 1999 as well, placing third in that tournament.

Mark Andrews made 77 appearances for the Springboks during his professional career and put down 12 tries. He recalls fondly of the rivalry between the Springboks and the All Blacks. A matchup he always enjoyed and longed for, because of the physicality and intensity both sides brought to the pitch.

The Springbok carries a genuine passion for the game. It’s no wonder then that his contribution to rugby created a memory that we all love.