South African Jo-Hanko De Villiers Comes to Dallas

Jo-Hanko, better known as Pikkie, was born and raised in Pretoria, South Africa. He began playing rugby at five years old. Pikkie attributes his love of rugby to his dad who played in the Currie Cup for the Blue Bulls. 

The 24-year-old Number 8 attended Eldoraigne High School. During his time playing rugby at Eldoraigne, Pikkie began as a prop but switched to the back row at the end of his high school career. After graduating high school in 2014, Pikkie attended the University of Johannesburg where he played for the Varsity Cup Team. 

To continue his rugby career, Pikkie signed with Lions Rugby in 2015. He joined the Lions, who compete in Super Rugby competition, as a junior player. Pikkie would continue to compete and work his way up in the Lions organization for the next six years. 

In 2017, Pikkie joined the U21 Golden Lions and made his senior Currie Cup debut when he helped the team to the Currie Cup finals. During this stand out season, he received awards for the “Best Forward Player” and “Best Player of the Year.” 

Pikkie says, “If I am not busy with rugby related things, I like to spend time outdoors.” If he is not training or playing, Pikkie can probably be found fishing or hiking to keep himself busy. 

Pikkie said he is excited to be a part of such a professional club and structure. “I would love nothing more than adding to that success, and I’m excited to be joining and working with an already talented group of players,” Pikkie continued. 

Although he has not been to Dallas, the things Pikkie has heard and seen about the city remind him of his home in South Africa. “So I know I will feel at home,” he commented. Welcome to the pack Pikkie!

###

About Dallas Jackals —

The Dallas Jackals are a professional rugby team of Major League Rugby (MLR), the highest level of rugby competition in North America. The Jackals were named as an expansion team in 2020 and will play their inaugural season in 2022 at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The team’s central mission is to develop domestic talent to a world-class level of play and professionalism while strengthening the high performance pathway in DFW by supporting the local clubs. Through proactive Community Outreach, the Jackals will exemplify and spread the passion of rugby by inspiring tradition, respect, family, and character on and off the pitch.

About MLR —

Major League Rugby is a professional sports league entering its fourth season and represents the highest level of competition in North America. The League evolved from seven teams in 2018, to 12 teams in 2021, featuring 11 from the United States and one from Canada. The competition follows an 18-week regular schedule for a chance to advance to the playoffs. Matches are televised on CBS Sports Network, Fox Sports 2, ESPN+, Facebook Live (for international viewers) and on different platforms in each local market. MLR prides itself on its incredible athletes, the passionate community behind them, and its strong values of Respect, Inclusivity, and Tradition.