Ruben de Haas explained

Ruben de Haas
Fullname:Ruben Pieter de Haas
Birth Date:9 October 1998
Birth Place:George, South Africa
Weight:190lb
School:Jessieville High School, Arkansas, USA
Relatives:Pieter de Haas (father) /
Gerard de Haas (grandfather)
Position:Scrum-half
Currentclub:Toyota Free State Cheetahs
Youthyears1:2015 - 2017
Youthclubs1:Little Rock Rugby Club AR USA
Years1:2018–2019
Apps1:10
Points1:0
Years2:2020–2021
Apps2:13
Points2:5
Years5:2021–2023
Apps5:23
Points5:0
Clubupdate:5 April 2022[1]
Amatyears1: 
Amatteam1:Free State Cheetahs U19
Amatyears2:2018
Amatupdate:21 May 2018
Repyears1:2016
Repteam1:United States U19
Repcaps1:2
Repyears2:2016–2017
Repteam2:United States U20
Repcaps2:6
Reppoints2:7
Repyears3:2017
Repteam3:USA Selects
Repcaps3:3
Reppoints3:5
Repyears4:2018–present
Repteam4:USA Eagles
Repcaps4:31
Reppoints4:33
Repupdate:3 October 2021

Ruben Pieter de Haas (born October 9, 1998) is a rugby union player who plays scrum-half for the United States men's national team. He previously played for in the English Premiership and currently for the Cheetahs in the SA Currie Cup and the 2024-25 EPCR Challenge Cup in Europe.

Early life

Ruben de Haas was born on October 9, 1998, in George, South Africa[2] as the son of Pieter de Haas and grandson of Gerard de Haas, both first class rugby players in South Africa.[3] [4] De Haas immigrated with his family to the USA at the age of 10 and attended Jessieville High School in Arkansas and played rugby for the Little Rock Junior Stormers, one of only two high school rugby teams in the state of Arkansas.

Professional career

Cheetahs

After having represented the United States at age-grade level (see sections below), De Haas signed an academy contract with South African provincial union the in July 2017.[5] He played for the side in the 2017 Under-19 Provincial Championship, and also played for university side the in the 2018 Varsity Cup,[3] before making his first class debut in South African domestic competition, for the in their 2018 Rugby Challenge match against the .[6]

In May 2018, the Free State Cheetahs announced that he signed a contract with the – the union's professional team – until the end of October 2020. In 2021 English Premiership giants Saracens signed De Haas on a 2 year deal where-after he returned for a second stint with the Cheetahs. [3]

Saracens

It was announced in February 2021 that De Haas would join Saracens ahead of the 2021–22 Premiership season and he made 23 appearances for the club.[7]

International career

Youth teams

De Haas first represented the United States as a member of the United States men's national under-19 team (High School All-Americans) in their 2016 tour of Ontario, Canada.[8] De Haas served as the captain of the High School All-Americans.[9]

De Haas debuted with the United States men's national under-20 team (Junior All-Americans) in the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy.[10] De Haas made his first appearance for the Junior All-Americans as a 65th minute substitute in a 46–44 loss to Namibia on April 19.[11] De Haas made his first start at scrum-half for the Junior All-Americans in their 32–12 victory over Hong Kong on April 23.[12]

De Haas also made two appearances for the Junior All-Americans in 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy qualification matches. He scored one conversion in the Junior All-Americans' 46–12 defeat to Canada on June 13, 2017.[13] He also scored one conversion and one penalty goal in the Junior All-American's 27–25 victory over Canada on June 17, 2017.[14] De Haas served as the vice captain of the Junior All-Americans.

USA Selects

De Haas made his first appearance with the USA Selects on October 7, 2017, starting at scrum-half in the Selects' 48–26 defeat to Samoa in the 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge.[15] De Haas scored his first try for the Selects on October 15, 2017, appearing as a substitute in the Selects' 45–26 victory over Canada.[16]

USA Eagles

De Haas made his debut with the USA Eagles on February 17, 2018, appearing as a substitute in the Eagles' 45–13 victory over Chile in the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship.[17] De Haas played 4 matches for the U.S. at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ruben DE HAAS, Scrum half . its rugby . 5 April 2022.
  2. Web site: Ruben de Haas . . May 24, 2018.
  3. Promising scrumhalf signs with Toyota Cheetahs . Cheetahs . May 28, 2018 . May 29, 2018.
  4. Web site: Arkansas Selects Thrive Under Radar . Goff . Alex . June 16, 2015 . Goff Rugby Report . Goff Communications . May 24, 2018.
  5. Web site: De Haas To Cheetahs Academy In South Africa . Goff . Alex . July 6, 2017 . FloRugby . FloSports . May 24, 2018.
  6. Web site: SuperSport Rugby Challenge - Match 12, Pool Stage . South African Rugby Union . April 28, 2018 . May 8, 2018.
  7. Web site: Hancock. Lewis. 2021-02-22. De Haas to join Sarries this summer. 2021-02-22. Saracens. en-GB.
  8. Web site: Boys High School All-Americans headed to Canada for two-match tour . Wise . Chad . June 24, 2016 . . Lafayette, Colorado . May 21, 2018.
  9. Web site: De Haas Makes Cheetahs U19 Debut In South Africa . Goff . Alex . August 19, 2017 . FloRugby . FloSports . May 24, 2018.
  10. Web site: Junior All-Americans named for World Trophy . April 9, 2016 . Americas Rugby News . May 21, 2018.
  11. Web site: World Rugby U20 Trophy 2016, Match 1 . worldrugby.org . . May 21, 2018.
  12. Web site: World Rugby U20 Trophy 2016, Match 8 . worldrugby.org . . May 21, 2018.
  13. Web site: All-Americans drop first leg of U20 Trophy Qualifier . Wise . Chad . June 13, 2017 . . Edmonton, Alberta . May 21, 2018.
  14. Web site: All-Americans Win, Miss U20 Trophy Qualification . Wise . Chad . June 17, 2017 . . Edmonton, Alberta . May 21, 2018.
  15. Web site: Samoa overwhelm 14-man USA . October 7, 2017 . Americas Rugby News . May 21, 2018.
  16. Web site: USA fend off Canada in Montevideo . October 15, 2017 . Americas Rugby News . May 21, 2018.
  17. Web site: Eagles overcome slow start to smash Chile . February 17, 2018 . Americas Rugby News . May 8, 2018.