Born in King Williams Town in Eastern Cape and schooled at Dale College, Maku made his professional debut for the Bulls at just 19 and enjoyed great success during his time with the province, claiming both Super 14 and Currie Cup titles during his 5 year stint with the senior squad.
Maku enjoyed a successful Super 14 in 2010 and shortly after he made his Springbok debut against Italy in their 29-13 win over the Azzurri in Witbank.
At the end of the 2010 season, Maku decided to move to the Lions and in 2011, he regularly got selected to start games and he played arguably his best rugby.
Maku consistently has a high work rate and has developed into one of South Africa’s most consistent hookers in Super Rugby. Maku remains a hugely ambitious and driven player and has a very bright career ahead of him in South Africa.
Date of Birth: 24/06/86
Position: Hooker
Height: 1.83m
Weight: 104kg
Currently contracted to: Lions
International Honours: SA U19 (2006), Emerging
Springboks 2007 & 2009, Springboks (1 Cap)
Deon Fourie made his Super rugby debut in 2008 and is now firmly established as an integral part of the Stormers squad.
He is rated as one of South Africa’s most explosive rugby players and an example of how his opponents fear his explosive pace was when Quade Cooper tweeted about his speed during the 2011 Super 15.
Fourie has gradually matured into a leader and in 2011 he was appointed captain of Western Province Currie Cup team in the absence of Schalk Burger.
Date of Birth: 25/09/86
Position: Hooker
Height: 1.77m
Weight: 99kgs
Currently contracted to: Western Province
International Honours: SA U19, SA Sevens 2007
Media: Deon Fourie set for key role
Experienced hooker Hannes Franklin made his professional debut for the Falcons in 2003 before, via the SWD Eagles and the Pumas, making his way to the EP Kings.
A hard-working No.2, Franklin was a member of the Lions' 2010 Super 14 squad and played for the Royals XV which took on the British and Irish Lions at the Mafokeng Stadium in 2009.
Franklin is a powerfully built hooker who enjoys carrying the ball and is who is highly regarded for his work at the contact points.
Franklin captained the Pumas during their 2010 Currie Cup campaign and helped them to avoid relegation with a hard-fought, narrow victory over the Kings in the Promotion/Relegation match. During 2011, Franklin has been a regular member of EP Kings starting team.
Date of Birth: 06/10/81
Position: Hooker
Height: 1,81m
Weight: 107kg
Currently contracted to: Eastern Province
Griquas hooker Matthew Dobson announced himself on the South African rugby scene with a couple of very impressive Varsity Cup campaigns with University of Stellenbosch (Maties).
Powerful, reliable and dynamic around the park, the young No.2 regularly took home the Man of the Match awards during both the 2009 and 2010 Varsity Cup seasons.
Born and schooled in Pietermaritzburg, Dobson moved to Maties in order to study and continue to develop his rugby. In 2011, Dobson joined Griqualand West ahead of the Vodacom Cup season. It did not take long for the strong front rower to make an impression in Kimberley. He soon earned his spot in the starting 22 and even managed to score a try on his debut, against Boland.
Date of Birth: 16/12/86
Position: Hooker
Height: 1.83m
Weight: 105kgs
Currently contracted to: Griquas
Griquas hooker Simon Westraadt attended Grey High School in the Eastern Province, representing the region at the Coca-Cola Craven Week in 2004, before moving down to the Cape to continue his career.
The powerful No.2 made his debut for Western Province in Vodacom Cup in 2007, before moving to Griqualand West in 2009.
Date of Birth: 31/03/86
Position: Hooker
Height: 1.76m
Weight: 107kg
Currently contracted to: Griquas
Zane Botha was born in Bloemfontein and schooled at Grey College. He moved to the Blue Bulls after school and has represented the Blue Bulls in u19 and u21 teams and Vodacom Cup teams. He represented SA u19 in 2009.
Date of Birth: 03/02/89
Position: Hooker
Height: 1,79m
Weight: 105kg
Currently contracted to: Blue Bulls / Tuks
Frank Herne, a product of Grey College, featured for the SA Schools Academy and Free State u19 in 2007.
In 2009 he played for Shimlas in the FNB Varsity Cup before getting his first taste of full senior rugby in the Vodacom Cup with the Cheetahs in 2010. Herne joined Eastern Province Kings for 2011 season.
Date of Birth: 31/10/89
Position: Hooker
Height: 1.78m
Weight: 101kg
Currently contracted to: Eastern Province
Known for his high work-rate and physicality on the pitch, Fourie has thrived on the field since a young age.
After representing SWD throughout age group level, right from U12 to U18, Fourie was contracted by the Leopards in 2010, where he is now a part of their Currie Cup squad.
Date of Birth: 15/10/90
Position: Hooker
Height: 1.83m
Weight: 102kgs
Currently contracted to: Leopards
Schooled in KwaZulu Natal, young hooker Dayne Jans has been a feature of an impressive Ikey Tigers team for the past few seasons.
Mobile, powerful and hard-working, Jans made his full debut for the UCT 1st side when he was just 20 years old and was the cornerstone of their pack in both the 2009 and 2010 Varsity Cup campaigns.
In 2009 Jans was handed a trial with the Lions but injury unfortunately prevented him from making the most of it. He returned to Cape Town and played for the Western Province Under-21 side while continuing his studies at UCT.
Date of Birth: 18/08/88
Position: Hooker
Height: 1,85m
Weight: 100kg
Currently contracted to: UCT RFC
Currently contracted to Border, Fourie's strength and mobility have seen him shine at age-group level. Still at the start of his career, Fourie is certainly one to watch for the future.
Date of Birth: 04/07/92
Position: Hooker
Height: 1,83m
Weight: 102kg
Currently contracted to:Border
