Return of Gideon van Wyk Gives SaberCats a ‘boost’

‘I was hungry to play,” SaberCats flanker scores hat trick in first game back

By Aaron Wilson

Gideon van Wyk bided his time, contemplating exactly how he would react once he was eligible to rejoin his teammates on the field.

And the SaberCats’ imposing flanker definitely made up for lost time during a match against the Utah Warriors.

van Wyk hadn’t lost his sense of timing or aggressiveness after serving a three-game Major League Rugby imposed suspension for a heading violation.

van Wyk scored a hat trick with three tries notched during the loss to Utah.

“I was hungry to play,” van Wyk said. “It’s tough to be out of the system. You train every day with your teammates and I was just hungry to play. All credit to the team. It’s a team sport. Luckily, I was at the right time at the right moments. I couldn’t do it without my teammates.”

At 6-foot-3, 233 pounds, the South Africa native has athleticism and size working in his favor.

“He’s a really, really good player,” Axel Zapata said. “He’s young. He has huge energy.”

When van Wyk was out, he did what he could to not accumulate rust. By staying sharp and remaining mentally focused, he was able to get back on the field and make an impact for the fourth-place SaberCats as they fight for a playoff berth.

Rules are rules, so van Wyk had to sit out.

“Unfortunately, I got a suspension,” he said. “It’s part of the game. I took that on the chin and I’m moving on. It was a head-on-head collision and I know Major League Rugby wants to improve on head injuries, that that away and decrease concussions.”

When the SaberCats acquired the Lichtenburg, South Africa native and re-signed him, it was with a purpose in mind.

“We picked him specifically for that role,” SaberCats director Heyneke Meyer said. “He’s a speedster. If guys make a mistake, he can capitalize. He has a lot of speed.”

Just 21 years old, van Wyk has a bright present and future. van Wyk played 534 minutes in 13 matches last season for the SaberCats with four starts. He scored five tries.

“Having him back was definitely a boost,” Emmanuel Albert said. “He’s a player that can go out there as an X-factor, get the ball in his hands and make something out of nothing.”

Before joining Major League Rugby, van Wyk previously played for the University of Free State, playing for the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup Premier Division and played for the Toyota Cheetahs. He previously represented the South Africa Under-18s and the South Africa School after attending Menlo Park and Paarl Boys High Schools.

“I would say there’s always a place for improvement,” van Wyk said. “I focused this week on running with the ball and attacking. I need to improve my defense. I’m always up for improvement.”

Photos by BigShots SnapShots