The Seattle Seawolves have signed former Toyota Cheetahs Flyhalf, Ryno Eksteen for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. The soon to be 25-year-old fly-half, who can also play fullback, is 6’1″ and 194 lbs.
Ryno is from Centurion, South Africa and attended Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool in Pretoria.
He played for the Blue Bulls Under-16s in 2010 in the Grant Khomo Week competition and for the Under-18s in 2012 from Craven Week, where he was the leading point scorer in the tournament. and was the top points scorer in the 2012 U18 Craven Week Tournament. His performance earned him a spot for the 2012 South African Schools side, where he had the opportunity to play against France, Wales, and England.
Ryno attended the Western Province Academy in 2013, however, a knee injury derailed his season. In 2014 he was selected for the DHL Stormers pre-season training squad and was selected to play Super Rugby, making his debut in the opening match against the Lions in 2014. In 2015, he went to Western Province’s senior side competing in the Currie Cup competition before playing the Currie Cup with the Free State Cheetahs in 2017. He also played with the Free State XV in the Rugby Challenge from 2017-2018.
In 2018 he joined the Toyota Cheetahs in the PRO14 competition.
Seattle Seawolves Comments
Prior to his decision to join the Major League Rugby fold, Eksteen was contracted to play for the Springbok 7s but missed the season due to injury. The young flyhalf becomes yet another weapon in the Seawolves backline to help continue identifying space and commanding a lethal attack heading into the 2020 season.
“I am excited to join an already successful team like the Seawolves,” said Eksteen. “I look forward to contributing to the future success and winning culture both on and off the field in the rugby-loving city of Seattle.”
