Dylan de Leeuw

Dylan de Leeuw is a South African flanker plying his trade with the Lions, the Johannesburg-based union that competes in the United Rugby Championship. Born on 10 November 2001, he is a loose forward built for the breakdown battle and the defensive frontline. De Leeuw's strengths are characteristic of a specialist openside: a high work rate, a nose for turnover ball and the discipline to fill his defensive responsibilities phase after phase. He looks to disrupt opposition possession at the contact area and to provide the kind of relentless effort that gives a forward pack its momentum. At 24, de Leeuw is entering the period in which a back-row forward typically establishes himself as a dependable senior contributor. Earning regular minutes in a competitive Lions loose-forward unit is the immediate challenge, and his combination of physicality and breakdown awareness positions him well to do so. A combative, team-first forward who prioritises the unseen work, Dylan de Leeuw continues to push for a more prominent role within the Lions' back-row stocks as the franchise looks to younger talent to drive its future.