Wayne van der Bank
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| Date of birth | 7 January 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Pretoria, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 89 kg (196 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Hoërskool Menlopark | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wayne van der Bank (born 7 January 1997) is a South African rugby union player for the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby (MLR) in the United States. His regular position is centre.
Pro career
[edit]A former Blue Bull youth player Wayne van der Bank was named in the 2017 South Africa U20s side. He was also named in the South African 7s Academy.[2]
He previously played for the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup and the Golden Lions XV in the Rugby Challenge.
He made his Currie Cup debut for the Golden Lions in July 2019, starting their opening match of the 2019 season against the Pumas at inside centre.[3] He would then Play for Pumas the following year appearing in 11 matches scoring 1 trie.
Van Der Bank would sign with the New England free jacks for the 2022 season. He would appear in 16 matches scoring 4 tries.
In 2023 Van der Bank would appear in 10 match’s being apart of the New England free jacks MLR championship team. The following year in 2024 he would have a break out year leading the league in both tackle breaks (69) and defenders beaten (92) as well as scoring 10 tries. This would lead to him being named Major league Rugby player of the year. As well as being named to the All MLR first team. He would also win another championship with the free jacks at the end of the year.[4]
van der Bank would be featured on sports centers top 10 plays for a trie he scored vs Athem Rugby in round 18 of the 2024 season. He would be the only MLR player featured on the show that season.[5]
During the 2025 season he would make his 50th cap for the free jacks.[6] Winning a third straight championship at the end of the season.
Honours
[edit]- New England Free Jacks
- Major League championship: 2025
- Major league Rugby player of the year: 2024
- Major League Rugby Championship: 2024
- All Major League Rugby first team: 2024[7]
- Major League Rugby Championship: 2023
Personal life
[edit]van der Bank has 2 brothers and 1 sister. In 2022 he studied to become a pastor.[8] He is married to his wife Winicha.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Wayne VAN DER BANK". Its Rugby. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ "Wayne van der Bank". www.ultimaterugby.com. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Match info & stats : Xerox Golden Lions v Phakisa Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ Van Der Bank MLR player of the year https://freejacks.com/news/wayne-van-der-bank-major-league-rugby-player-of-the-year-2024/
- ^ Wayne Van Der Bank sports center top 10 https://x.com/usmlr/status/1807819792641851729?s=46&t=ojA_WL7Ue7jy-cuOGuf2DA
- ^ Facebook Wayne van der Bank will play his 50th Free Jacks match this Sunday against Miami https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1152275263580768&id=100063949140266&set=a.717073500434282
- ^ All major league ruby first team https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/major-league-rugby-announces-2024-first-and-second-all-mlr-teams-and-honorable-mention/
- ^ The New England Free Jacks (8 March 2022). ғʀᴇᴇ ᴊᴀᴄᴋs ɪɴ 5️⃣ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴀʀʙᴇʟʟᴀ ɪɴsᴜʀᴀɴᴄᴇ - Wayne van der Bank 🇿🇦. Retrieved 12 July 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ https://freejacks.com/news/wayne-van-der-bank-major-league-rugby-player-of-the-year-2024/#:~:text=3%2520years%2520into%2520an%2520initial,First%2520XV:%2520Old%2520Glory%2520D.C.&text=ROUND%252015%2520%E2%80%A2%2520MLR%2520First%2520XV:%2520Old%2520Glory%2520D.C. https://freejacks.com/news/wayne-van-der-bank-major-league-rugby-player-of-the-year-2024/#:~:text=3%2520years%2520into%2520an%2520initial,First%2520XV:%2520Old%2520Glory%2520D.C.&text=ROUND%252015%2520%E2%80%A2%2520MLR%2520First%2520XV:%2520Old%2520Glory%2520D.C.
   | This biographical article relating to South African rugby union, about a person born in the 1990s, is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- South African rugby union players
- Living people
- 1997 births
- Rugby union players from Pretoria
- Rugby union centres
- Golden Lions players
- Pumas (Currie Cup) players
- New England Free Jacks players
- South African expatriate rugby union players in the United States
- 21st-century South African sportsmen
- Alumni of Hoërskool Menlopark
- South African rugby union biography, 1990s birth stubs