Hanro Liebenberg

Hanro Liebenberg (born 10 October 1995) is a South African rugby union player for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby. He previously played for the Bulls in Super Rugby, the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Blue Bulls XV in the Rugby Challenge.[1] His regular playing position is number eight and flanker.

Hanro Liebenberg
Date of birth (1995-10-10) 10 October 1995
Place of birthBrackenfell, South Africa
Height1.97 m (6 ft 5+1⁄2 in)[1]
Weight110 kg (17 st 5 lb; 243 lb)[1]
SchoolHTS Drostdy, Worcester
Notable relative(s)Wiaan Liebenberg (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number eight/Flanker
Current team Leicester Tigers
Youth career
2012–2013 Boland Cavaliers
2014–2016 Blue Bulls
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2019 Bulls 44 (35)
2015–2016 Blue Bulls 20 (20)
2016–2018 Blue Bulls XV 10 (20)
2018–2019 → Stade Français 5 (5)
2019–present Leicester Tigers 89 (85)
Correct as of 22 October 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015 South Africa Under-20 5 (10)
Correct as of 11 April 2018

Liebenberg was a Premiership Rugby champion in 2022, scoring the first try in the final.

Career

Youth

Liebenberg was twice selected to represent Boland at the annual Under-18 Craven Week tournaments; in 2012, he played for them at the tournament held in Port Elizabeth and he once again played in 2013, captaining the side and scoring two tries in their match against the hosts Limpopo Blue Bulls in Polokwane.[2]

Blue Bulls / Bulls

After finishing school, Liebenberg made the move to Pretoria to join the Blue Bulls, following in the footsteps of older brother Wiaan who made the move three years earlier. He represented the Blue Bulls U19 side in the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship, quickly establishing himself as a key player for the side. He started thirteen of their fourteen matches during the campaign, scoring seven tries[3] (including a hat-trick in their derby match against Golden Lions in a 37–30 win)[4] as the Blue Bulls made it all the way to the final of the competition, where they lost to Western Province U19 in Cape Town.[5]

Despite not having played any first class matches, Liebenberg was selected in the Bulls' 55-man wider training squad prior the 2015 Super Rugby season.[6] He also made the cut for the final squad[7] and was named on the bench for their Round Two match against the Hurricanes in Pretoria.[8] He made his debut, coming on as an injury replacement for Deon Stegmann in the first half, but ended the match on the losing side, with the Hurricanes running out 17–13 winners.[9] In March 2015, Liebenberg was named in a South Africa Under-20 training group as part of their preparation for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[10] He featured for them in a friendly match against a Varsity Cup Dream Team in April 2015.[11] In May 2015, he was included in the South Africa Under-20 squad that toured Argentina.[12] He started in their second tour match, captaining the side and scoring a try in a 39–28 victory.[13]

Upon the team's return, Liebenberg was named as captain of the side for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[14] He started all three of their matches in Pool B of the competition; a 33–5 win against hosts Italy during which Liebenberg scored one of South Africa's tries,[15] their match against Samoa which once again saw Liebenberg score a try in a 40–8 win[16] and a 46–13 win over Australia[17] to help South Africa finish top of Pool B to qualify for the semi-finals with the best record pool stage of all the teams in the competition. Liebenberg started their semi-final match against England, but could not prevent them losing 20–28 to be eliminated from the competition by England for the second year in succession[18] and also started their third-place play-off match against France, helping South Africa to a 31–18 win to secure third place in the competition.[19]

In June 2015, Liebenberg extended his contract at the Bulls until October 2017.[20] During December 2018 and January 2019 he played for Stade Français in France's Top 14 on loan.

Leicester Tigers

On 2 July 2019, Leicester Tigers announced Liebenberg as a new signing for the 2019–20 season.[21] Liebenberg made his Leicester debut on 27 September 2019 in a Premiership Rugby Cup match against Exeter Chiefs. On 7 July 2020, Liebenberg extended his contract with Leicester,[22] and the following season was voted as the club's Player of the season.[23][24] On 26 August 2021 he was appointed as Leicester's vice-captain for the 2021–22 season.Ahead of the 2022/23 Hanro has been named Captain of Leicester Tigers. [25] Liebenberg started the 2022 Premiership Rugby final, scoring the first try and securing the final kick off as Leicester won 15-12 against Saracens.[26]

Personal

Liebenberg is the younger brother of Wiaan Liebenberg, a former player with Stade Rochelais and the captain of the South African Under-20 squad that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship.[27]

Liebenberg is a keen football fan and a supporter of English Championship team Norwich City.

Hanro Liebenberg at Premiership Rugby

References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Hanro Liebenberg". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Limpopo Blue Bulls 26–31 Boland". South African Rugby Union. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  3. "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2014 Absa Under 19 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Blue Bulls U19 37–30 Golden Lions U19". South African Rugby Union. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Western Province U19 33–26 Blue Bulls U19". South African Rugby Union. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  6. "Three extend contracts as Vodacom Bulls get ready for 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby season" (Press release). Bulls. 13 November 2014. Archived from the original on 27 November 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  7. "Vodacom Bulls Team". Bulls. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  8. "Spies back to lead Vodacom Bulls". Bulls. 17 February 2015. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Bulls 13–17 Hurricanes". South African Rugby Union. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  10. "Junior Springbok-oefengroep gekies" (in Afrikaans). Netwerk24. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  11. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Varsity Cup XV 24–31 South Africa U/20". South African Rugby Union. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  12. "SARU names Junior Bok squad for Argentine tour". South African Rugby Union. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  13. "Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 39 a 28". Unión Argentina de Rugby (in Spanish). 16 May 2015. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  14. "Liebenberg to lead Junior Boks at U20 World Championship in Italy". South African Rugby Union. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  15. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Italy U20 5–33 South Africa U20". South African Rugby Union. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  16. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa U20 40–8 Samoa U20". South African Rugby Union. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  17. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa U20 46–13 Australia U20". South African Rugby Union. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  18. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa U20 20–28 England U20". South African Rugby Union. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  19. "SA Rugby Match Centre – France U20 18–31 South Africa U20". South African Rugby Union. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  20. "Vodacom Blue Bulls name Absa Currie Cup squad" (Press release). Bulls. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  21. "EW Viljoen, Hanro Liebenberg & Jordan Coghlan join Premiership side". BBC. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  22. "Tigers wrap-up Liebenberg long term". 7 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  23. "Liebenberg, Wiese win big at Tigers awards". SA Rugby Mag. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  24. "Player of the Year: Hanro Liebenberg". Leicester Tigers. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  25. "Ellis Genge: Leicester Tigers name England prop as new club captain". BBC Sport. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  26. "Premiership final: Leicester Tigers 15-12 Saracens - Freddie Burns drop-goal clinches title". BBC Sport. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  27. "Top Rugby Talent on Display at NWU-Puk Skouspel". Youth Sports Network. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
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