South African born rugby player D.T.H. van der Merwe is set to break the Canadian record for all-time Rugby World Cup appearances when Canada faces his native South Africa in their third Pool B game at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The game against the two-time world champions on Tuesday at the Misaki Park Stadium in Kobe will be van der Merwe’s 15th Rugby World Cup appearance.
It will also be the first time he has played against South Africa in his career which spans 60 Tests.
“Emotional/Exciting/Proud day tomorrow when I get to face my country of birth for the first time. So happy to have shared today’s captain’s run with my parents,” van der Merwe wrote on his Instagram account.
Van der Merwe, 33, was born in Worcester, South Africa, but his family moved to Canada in 2003. He made his Test debut for Canada in 2006 against Barbados.
