Hanro Liebenberg (born 10 October 1995) is a South African
rugby union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...
player for in England's
Premiership Rugby
Premiership Rugby, officially known as Gallagher Premiership Rugby, or the Gallagher Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is an English professional rugby union competition. The Premiership has consisted of thirteen clubs since 2021, and is the ...
. He previously played for the in
Super Rugby
Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It previously included teams from Argentina, Japan, and South Africa. Building on various Southern Hem ...
, the in the
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring (June to October), featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces. Although it is the premier ...
and the in the
Rugby Challenge.
His regular playing position is number eight and flanker.
Liebenberg was a
Premiership Rugby
Premiership Rugby, officially known as Gallagher Premiership Rugby, or the Gallagher Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is an English professional rugby union competition. The Premiership has consisted of thirteen clubs since 2021, and is the ...
champion in
2022
File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; 2022 Sri Lankan protests, Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretari ...
, scoring the first try in the final.
Career
Youth
Liebenberg was twice selected to represent Boland at the annual Under-18
Craven Week
The Craven Week is an annual rugby union tournament organised for schoolboys in the Republic of South Africa. The tournament started in July 1964, and is named after the legendary Springbok rugby union player and coach Dr Danie Craven.
The tou ...
tournaments; in 2012, he played for them at the tournament held in
Port Elizabeth
Gqeberha (), formerly Port Elizabeth and colloquially often referred to as P.E., is a major seaport and the most populous city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is the seat of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, Sou ...
and he once again played in 2013, captaining the side and scoring two tries in their match against the hosts in
.
Blue Bulls / Bulls
After finishing school, Liebenberg made the move to
Pretoria
Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa.
Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends ...
to join the , following in the footsteps of older brother
Wiaan who made the move three years earlier. He represented the side in the
2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship
The 2014 ABSA Under-19 Provincial Championship was a rugby union competition held between the Under-19 players from the fourteen provincial rugby unions in South Africa, plus the sub-union. It was contested from 11 July to 25 October 2014.
Grou ...
, quickly establishing himself as a key player for the side. He started thirteen of their fourteen matches during the campaign, scoring seven tries
(including a hat-trick in their derby match against in a 37–30 win)
as the Blue Bulls made it all the way to the final of the competition, where they lost to in
Cape Town
Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...
.
Despite not having played any first class matches, Liebenberg was selected in the ' 55-man wider training squad prior the
2015 Super Rugby season
The 2015 Super Rugby season was the 20th season of Super Rugby and the fifth season featuring an expanded 15-team format. For sponsorship reasons, this competition was known as Asteron Life Super Rugby in Australia, Investec Super Rugby in New ...
.
He also made the cut for the final squad
and was named on the bench for their Round Two match against the in
Pretoria
Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa.
Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends ...
.
He made his debut, coming on as an injury replacement for
Deon Stegmann
Gideon Johannes Stegmann (born 22 March 1986) is a South African professional rugby union player, who most recently played as an openside flank for Honda Heat in the Japanese Top League. He made his Super 14 debut for the Bulls in 2008 at th ...
in the first half, but ended the match on the losing side, with the Hurricanes running out 17–13 winners.
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
The 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship was the eighth annual international rugby union competition for Under 20 national teams. The event was organised for the second time in Italy by rugby's governing body, World Rugby. Twelve nations played i ...
.
He featured for them in a friendly match against a
Varsity Cup Dream Team in April 2015.
In May 2015, he was included in the
South Africa Under-20 squad that toured
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
.
He started in their second tour match, captaining the side and scoring a try in a 39–28 victory.
Upon the team's return, Liebenberg was named as captain of the side for the
2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship
The 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship was the eighth annual international rugby union competition for Under 20 national teams. The event was organised for the second time in Italy by rugby's governing body, World Rugby. Twelve nations played i ...
.
He started all three of their matches in Pool B of the competition; a 33–5 win against hosts
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
during which Liebenberg scored one of South Africa's tries,
their match against
Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono an ...
which once again saw Liebenberg score a try in a 40–8 win
and a 46–13 win over
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
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
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, but could not prevent them losing 20–28 to be eliminated from the competition by England for the second year in succession
and also started their third-place play-off match against
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, helping South Africa to a 31–18 win to secure third place in the competition.
In June 2015, Liebenberg extended his contract at the Bulls until October 2017.
During December 2018 and January 2019 he played for
Stade Français
Stade Français Paris Rugby () is a French professional rugby union club based in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. The club plays in the Top 14 domestic league in France and is one of the most successful French clubs of the modern era. The ...
in France's
Top 14
The Top 14 () is a professional rugby union club competition that is played in France. Created in 1892, the Top 14 is at the top of the national league system operated by the French National Rugby League, also known by its French initialism o ...
on loan.
Leicester Tigers
On 2 July 2019,
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers (officially Leicester Football Club) are a professional rugby union club based in Leicester, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby.
The club was founded in 1880 and since 1892 plays its hom ...
announced Liebenberg as a new signing for the 2019–20 season. Liebenberg made his Leicester debut on 27 September 2019 in a
Premiership Rugby Cup
The Premiership Rugby Cup is an English rugby union knockout cup competition for teams in Premiership Rugby. It was created in 2018 to replace the Anglo-Welsh Cup after the withdrawal of the Welsh regions.
History
The Premiership Rugby Cup was ...
match against
Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs (officially Exeter Rugby Club) is an England, English professional rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby.
The club was founded in 1871 and since 2006 has played i ...
. On 7 July 2020, Liebenberg extended his contract with Leicester, and the following season was voted as the club's ''Player of the season''. 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. Liebenberg started the
2022 Premiership Rugby final, scoring the first try and securing the final kick off as Leicester won 15-12 against
Saracens
file:Erhard Reuwich Sarazenen 1486.png, upright 1.5, Late 15th-century Germany in the Middle Ages, German woodcut depicting Saracens
Saracen ( ) was a term used in the early centuries, both in Greek language, Greek and Latin writings, to refer ...
.
Personal
Liebenberg is the younger brother of
Wiaan Liebenberg, a former player with
Stade Rochelais
Stade Rochelais (), commonly called La Rochelle, is a French rugby union club who compete in the Top 14.
They were founded in 1898 and play at Stade Marcel-Deflandre (capacity 16,000). They wear yellow and black. They are based in La Rochelle ...
and the captain of the
South African Under-20 squad that won the
2012 IRB Junior World Championship
The 2012 IRB Junior World Championship was the fifth annual international rugby union competition for Under 20 national teams. This competition replaced the now defunct Under 19 and Under 21 world championships. The event was organised in South A ...
.
External links
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liebenberg, Hanro
South African rugby union players
Living people
1995 births
Rugby union players from Cape Town
Rugby union number eights
Blue Bulls players
Bulls (rugby union) players
South Africa Under-20 international rugby union players
Leicester Tigers players