REAL RUGBY STATS

Springbok no. 928 · Lock

Ruan Nortjé

Ruan Nortjé · Blue Bulls, Spears

24Tests
1Tries
1Tours
23Age at debut

Test career

202220242026

First test

9 Jul 2022, age 23 · Reserve v Wales, Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Last test

12 Sep 2026, age 28 · Lock v New Zealand, Ravens Stadium, Baltimore

Biography

Ruan Nortjé is a 2 m lock and a tireless worker in the tight exchanges, known at Loftus as an iron man. Born in Pretoria on 25 July 1998 and educated at Wonderboom, he played only for the Bulls at senior level from his debut in 2018, captained the side, and played in several United Rugby Championship finals.

He made his Test debut in 2022. In 2026 he ended almost a decade at the Bulls, playing his last game in the URC final against Leinster in Dublin, before moving to Japan.

Test history

24 tests · 5 points
DateOpponentVenuePositionResultProvince
09 Jul 2022WalesFree State Stadium, BloemfonteinReserveL 12–13Blue Bulls
17 Aug 2024AustraliaPerth Stadium, PerthLockW 30–12Blue Bulls
31 Aug 2024New ZealandEllis Park, JohannesburgLockW 31–27Blue Bulls
07 Sep 2024New ZealandCape Town Stadium, Cape TownLockW 18–12Blue Bulls
21 Sep 2024ArgentinaEstadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, SantiagoLockL 28–29Blue Bulls
28 Sep 2024ArgentinaMbombela Stadium, NelspruitLockW 48–7Blue Bulls
12 Jul 2025ItalyNelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port ElizabethLockW 45–0Blue Bulls
19 Jul 2025GeorgiaMbombela Stadium, NelspruitLockW 55–10Blue Bulls
23 Aug 2025AustraliaCape Town Stadium, Cape TownLockW 30–22Blue Bulls
06 Sep 2025New ZealandEden Park, AucklandLockL 17–24Blue Bulls
13 Sep 2025New ZealandWellington Regional Stadium, WellingtonLockW 43–10Blue Bulls
27 Sep 2025ArgentinaKings Park, DurbanLockW 67–30Blue Bulls
04 Oct 2025ArgentinaTwickenham, LondonLockW 29–27Blue Bulls
01 Nov 2025JapanWembley, LondonReserveW 61–7Blue Bulls
08 Nov 2025FranceStade de France, ParisReserveW 32–17Blue Bulls
15 Nov 2025ItalyJuventus Stadium, TurinReserveW 32–14Blue Bulls
22 Nov 2025IrelandAviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), DublinLockW 24–13Blue Bulls
29 Nov 2025WalesMillennium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffLockW 73–0Blue Bulls
04 Jul 2026EnglandEllis Park, JohannesburgLockW 45–21Spears
11 Jul 2026ScotlandLoftus Versfeld, PretoriaLockW 42–28Spears
22 Aug 2026New ZealandEllis Park, JohannesburgLockL 16–33Spears
29 Aug 2026New ZealandCape Town Stadium, Cape TownLockW 33–26Spears
05 Sep 2026New ZealandNational Stadium, JohannesburgLockW 29–24Spears
12 Sep 2026New ZealandRavens Stadium, BaltimoreLockW 43–28Spears