He’s been dubbed an unsung hero, but Jeandre Rudolph is now starting to get the plaudits he deserves.
Less than a year after being on the brink of retirement, the Vodacom Bulls back rower is now firmly established as one of the stand-out performers in the Vodacom URC.
He has won more turnovers than any other player in the competition this season, with his tally of 16 being four more than his nearest rival.
Earning a reputation as a real “breakdown beast”, the 31-year-old has played a key role in helping the Bulls move into the top eight in the league table.
Rudolph has had to bide his time for an opportunity with one of South Africa’s big four franchises, having played the bulk of his rugby at Currie Cup level.
But now, six years on from a brief spell on loan with Bulls, he is back in Pretoria on a full-time basis with his initial short-term deal having been extended into a two-year contract.
He’s been a regular starter over the past couple of months, packing down at either No 8 or on the flank, and is likely to be an important figure once again in Saturday’s Vodacom URC derby clash with the Hollywoodbets Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.
Rudolph was born in Florida - that’s Florida in the Gauteng province of South Africa, rather than the USA!
When he was six, he moved down to the Western Cape with his family, going to school in Riversdale.
“The community I grew up in was a real small town vibe,” he recalls.
“We were just normal kids riding bikes around. I have very fond memories of those times.
“I always played rugby from when I was young, but never thought of it as a career.
“Then, at the end of 2012, I got an opportunity to go to the North-West University and play rugby for them. That’s when everything actually started.”
Rudolph captained the Potchefstroom-based university for three years and led them to their first-ever Varsity Cup triumph in 2016.
He went on to have spells with the Leopards and the Pumas in the Currie Cup, ahead of a first short stint with the Bulls in 2020 when he made four Super Rugby appearances.
A move to the Cheetahs followed, and he really excelled in Bloemfontein, helping them win the 2023 Currie Cup, while he also impressed during a stay on loan with the Ospreys in Wales.
In all, he made 74 appearances during his five seasons with the Cheetahs and became a real cult figure.
However, last summer, it looked as though he may have reached the end of the road amid reports that he could be about to hang up his boots.
But then in stepped new Bulls coach Johan Ackermann to sign him up on a short-term deal.
Rudolph has grabbed his chance with both hands, making a huge impact with his carrying, his defence and, above all, his work over the ball.
He was named Player of the Match in December’s Vodacom URC clash with the Sharks in Durban, while he earned rich praise for his performance against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town at the start of last month.
Stormers coach John Dobson said, “I thought he was incredible at the breakdown, a nuisance really.
“He’s an unsung sort of player. He’s just an amazing player, a good leader and a good guy.”
In addition to his exploits in the league, Rudolph was also named Player of the Match in the Bulls’ Investec Champions Cup victory away to French club Pau in January - a result which earned them a place in the last 16.
Speaking about life in Pretoria, he said: “The Bulls family culture is great. Everyone is so friendly.
“Obviously, the step up from Currie Cup is something to get used to, but having a lot of experience and good players around you, you quickly catch on.”
He certainly looks to have done just that and is really making his mark as the Vodacom URC’s turnover king.