Evan Roos (born 21 January 2000) is a South African professional rugby union player for Western Province in the Currie Cup and the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship. Standing at an impressive 1.92 meters tall and weighing 108 kilograms, this dynamic loose forward has rapidly established himself as one of rugby’s most exciting talents, earning recognition both domestically and internationally.
Early Career and Development
Roos’s rugby journey began with his selection for the South Africa Schools squad in 2018. He made a significant impact, earning three appearances in the 2018 Under-19 International Series and even scoring a try against France. This early success showcased his potential and set the foundation for his professional career.
Born in Cape Town 20 years ago and initially educated at Affies in Pretoria, Roos represented WP Schools at Craven Week, and gained selection for SA Schools in 2018. He attained cult status at Boys High for a 50-metre try he scored in the annual Interschools clash with Paarl Gimnasium.
Roos made his Currie Cup debut for the Sharks in August 2019, coming on as a replacement in their match against the Free State Cheetahs in Round Five of the 2019 season. However, his time with the Sharks proved challenging, and he later revealed that he had considered quitting rugby altogether during this difficult period.
The Stormers Breakthrough
“Not too many people know this but, two years back before I joined the Stormers, I thought about giving up rugby to go study because things weren’t working out at the Sharks. But then I got this lifeline at Western Province, and I’m so grateful for it and just glad to be playing again”, Roos revealed in a television interview.
In 2020, Roos joined the Stormers and Western Province on loan from the Sharks, signaling a return to his hometown of Cape Town. The move allowed him to further develop his game and contribute to the success of the team. Recognizing his potential and contributions, Roos signed a three-year contract with the Stormers and Western Province in 2021.
Historic URC Championship Success
The 2021-22 season proved to be career-defining for Roos. He played a pivotal role in the Stormers’ historic inaugural United Rugby Championship (URC) victory, delivering consistently outstanding performances throughout the tournament.
Roos has been destructive with ball in hand and finished with the most successful carries (126) and defenders beaten (49) in the tournament during the 18 rounds of the regular season. His exceptional form continued into the playoffs, where he delivered a Man of the Match performance in the quarter-final victory over Edinburgh and scored a crucial try in the semi-final against Ulster.
Record-Breaking Awards Haul
Roos’s 2022 URC campaign resulted in an unprecedented awards sweep. The 22-year-old has already won the Fans’ Player of the Season and Next-Gen Player of the Season prizes while also being named in the United Rugby Championship Dream Team. He completed a remarkable quadruple by also claiming the Players’ Player of the Season award, voted for by the competition’s captains and vice-captains.
DHL Stormers No 8 Evan Roos has completed a dream tournament by walking away with the inaugural Vodacom Player of the United Rugby Championship Season Award, which forms part of the annual SA Rugby Awards. This made him the standout performer in the inaugural URC season, cementing his reputation as one of the competition’s premier talents.
International Recognition
Evan made his Springbok debut on 9 July 2022, against Wales, and started in the number 8 jersey. He is Springbok #924. His Test debut came at the age of 22, following his stellar URC performances that caught the attention of the Springbok selectors.
Roos, who attended the first alignment in Cape Town in February, has run out seven times in the green and gold. His last Test was against Portugal in Bloemfontein in the 2024 Castle Lager Incoming Series, before he was sidelined for several months due to shoulder surgery. Since then, he has only amassed six more caps, for a grand total of seven Springbok appearances between 2022 and 2024, after his international career trajectory took a dip following his omission from South Africa’s Rugby World Cup squad and then more recently from the Rugby Championship squad.
Playing Style and Position Versatility
He can play as a flank, eighth man or lock, showcasing remarkable versatility across the forward pack. Regularly found in the wide channels, he has incredible pace and footwork for such a big man whilst also possessing a high-level passing game. His ball-carrying ability and athleticism have drawn comparisons to some of rugby’s greatest loose forwards.
Aptly compared to Springbok incumbent Duane Vermeulen, Roos has an uncompromising nature about him that has certainly added an edge to a talented Stormers pack. His ability to break defensive lines and create opportunities for teammates has made him a crucial component of the Stormers’ attacking strategy.
Recent Challenges and Comeback
The past two years have been challenging for Roos, marked by injury setbacks and international disappointments. That opened a window of opportunity for Roos to have a recurring shoulder injury checked out and to compound his misery, doctors advised him to undergo corrective surgery and informed him the medical procedure would see him miss the Stormers’ start to the new season as it would keep him sidelined until December.
However, Roos has approached his comeback with renewed perspective. “I want to keep working on what I have achieved so far and just get better at the small technical aspects and those things that come with experience. I also want to enjoy my rugby again. I have been hard on myself this past year and a half”, he explained.
Current Status and Future Outlook
So far in his fledgling Springbok career, Roos has earned seven Test caps between 2022 and 2024 and judging by his recent form for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship, the dynamic loose forward is well-set to add to his tally. Despite recent setbacks, his talent and determination suggest that his best years may still lie ahead.
“I really came back motivated, rejuvenated and energised to play again. One of the reasons why I’m doing better than usual is because I’m really enjoying being in the moment, staying in the present, and trying to do my best for the Stormers. I’m not too worried about things in the future. I just control what I can control. The rest is not in my hands, it’s in someone else’s hands”.
At just 25 years old, Evan Roos has already achieved remarkable success in his rugby career. From nearly quitting the sport to becoming a URC champion and Springbok, his journey exemplifies resilience and determination. As he continues to develop his game with the Stormers, rugby fans worldwide will be watching to see how this exceptional talent continues to evolve on the international stage.
