Ruaan Stephen Lerm (born 25 March 1992) is a South African rugby union player for the in the Pro14. His regular position is number eight or flanker.

Career

Youth

Lerm played schools rugby for Hoërskool Dr. E.G. Jansen in Boksburg, which earned him call-ups to a few youth week tournaments for his local side. In 2008, he was selected in their squad for the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in Ermelo, which also led to his inclusion in a South African Under-16 Elite squad training group. He then represented the Falcons in two consecutive Under-18 Craven Week competitions; the 2009 competition held in

East London East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the f ...

and the 2010 competition held in Welkom, where he scored a try in his only appearance against Border. In 2011, Lerm made the short move from the Falcons to Johannesburg-based . Lerm played in all fourteen of the 's matches during the

2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship The 2011 ABSA Under-19 Provincial Championship was contested from 15 July to 29 October 2011. The tournament featured the Under-19 players from the fourteen provincial rugby unions in South Africa. Competition Division A There were seven partici ...

, scoring five tries as they went all the way to final of the competition. In the final, they faced Gauteng rivals the . Lerm played all 70 minutes as his side ran out 20–19 winners to clinch the championship in front of their home crown in Johannesburg. Lerm moved up to the Under-21 age group in 2012 and made ten appearances for the side in the

2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship The 2012 ABSA Under-21 Provincial Championship will be contested from 13 July to 27 October 2012. The tournament will feature the Under-21 players from the fourteen provincial rugby unions in South Africa. Competition Division A There are seven p ...

(scoring two tries) and then made eleven starts during the

2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship The 2013 ABSA Under-21 Provincial Championship will be contested from 12 July to 26 October 2013. The tournament will feature the Under-21 players from the fourteen provincial rugby unions in South Africa. Competition Group A There are seven part ...

, scoring five tries.

Golden Lions

His first class debut came in 2012, during the Vodacom Cup competition. He started in their opening match of the season against the in

Potchefstroom Potchefstroom (, colloquially known as Potch) is an academic city in the North West Province of South Africa. It hosts the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. Potchefstroom is on the Mooi Rivier (Afrikaans for "pretty river" ...

, where they suffered a 23–16 defeat. After playing off the bench in the Golden Lions' 59–29 victory over his former side in their next match, he then started a further five matches during the competition. He made just one appearance during the

2013 Vodacom Cup The 2013 Vodacom Cup was played between 9 March and 18 May 2013 and was the 16th edition of this annual domestic cup competition. The Vodacom Cup is played between provincial rugby union teams in South Africa from the Currie Cup Premier and First ...

, scoring his first senior try in the Golden Lions' 30–19 defeat to the in Welkom. In the

2014 Vodacom Cup The 2014 Vodacom Cup was played between 7 March and 16 May 2014 and was the 17th edition of this annual domestic cup competition. This edition of the Vodacom Cup was played between fourteen provincial rugby union teams in South Africa from the Cu ...

, he started in all nine matches of the ' season as they made it all the way to the final, only to lose 30–6 in the final against in

Kimberley Kimberly or Kimberley may refer to: Places and historical events Australia * Kimberley (Western Australia) ** Roman Catholic Diocese of Kimberley * Kimberley Warm Springs, Tasmania * Kimberley, Tasmania a small town * County of Kimberley, a ...

. Lerm scored five tries in his nine matches, including two tries in their match against the .

Griquas

In 2014, Lerm made a loan move to

to join for the duration of the

2014 Currie Cup Premier Division The 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division was the 76th season in the competition since it started in 1889 and was contested from 9 August to 25 October 2014. The tournament (known as the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division for sponsorship reasons) is the ...

, as part of the deal that saw

Howard Mnisi Xolane Howard Mnisi (born 13 July 1989) is a South African rugby union player for the in the Pro14. His regular position is centre. Career Youth Mnisi represented the at the 2006 and 2007 Under-18 Craven Week tournaments, which earned him ...

in the opposite direction. He was named in the starting line-up for their Round Three match against the in

Nelspruit Mbombela (also known as Nelspruit) is a city in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province. Located on the Crocodile River (Mpumalanga), Crocodile River, Mbombela lies about by road west of the Mozambique border, ea ...

and made a total of eight appearances.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lerm, Ruaan South African rugby union players Living people 1992 births People from Kempton Park, Gauteng Rugby union flankers Rugby union number eights Golden Lions players Griquas (rugby union) players Southern Kings players Rugby union players from Gauteng Lions (United Rugby Championship) players