Willie le Roux Biography

Willie le Roux was born in Stellenbosch on 18 August 1989 and attended Paul Roos Gymnasium. He made his Super Rugby debut in 2012 and his international debut against Italy in Durban on 8 June 2013.

Le Roux started his professional career with the Boland Cavaliers. He spent two years with the Cavaliers, helping them lift the 2011 Currie Cup First Division title in his final appearance. Willie le Roux then moved north to join the Griquas in 2012 and started nine of the Peacock Blues' 10 games during his debut season in Kimberley. 

Willie le Roux quickly established himself as one of the top backs in the country and was subsequently quickly called up to the Cheetahs Super Rugby squad in 2012. Numerous top draw performances for the Cheetahs followed and the national side came calling. He earned his Test debut at the age of 24.

He played an integral part in South Africa's 2013 Rugby Championship campaign later that year. Wille le Roux featured in all six matches and scored tries in both home and away Tests against Australia. He registered his first career Test try against Australia, in a 38-12 Boks victory in Brisbane on 7 September 2013.

His performances at international level catapulted him onto the world stage as he was first awarded the South African Players’ Association Player of the Year in 2013. And then he was nominated for the World Player of the Year award in 2014 alongside Julian Savea, Johnny Sexton, Duane Vermeulen and eventual winner Brodie Retallick.

Willie le Roux left the Cheetahs after the 2015 Super Rugby season to spend some time playing in Japan with the Canon Eagles before joining the Sharks for the 2016 season. 

His time with the Durban-based Sharks would prove to be short lived when English Premiership side Wasps announced he would join them in January 2017 after finishing his commitments with the Canon Eagles.

Willie le Roux was an immediate hit at Wasps as he helped the Coventry-based club reach the Premiership final in his first season. This saw him set a Premiership record of 21 try assists during the regular season. 

In May 2018, Willie le Roux was recalled into the Springbok fray by new Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus as preparations got underway for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

In January 2019, Wasps confirmed that Le Roux would be leaving the club at the end of the 2018/19 season. Two months later, he signed a deal with Japanese club Toyota Verblitz.

2019 proved to be a very successful year for Willie le Roux on the international front as the Springboks went on to win the Rugby Championship for the first time since Argentina joined the competition.