Andre Esterhuizen was a key player in the Harlequins team' recent success Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers
Harlequins have confirmed the departure of Andre Esterhuizen at the end of the season, with the Springbok returning home to South Africa for family reasons.
Esterhuizen has been released from the final year of his contract with the club, He called what he called a «difficult decision» to be closer to his family and is widely expected to sign with the Sharks in South Africa.
Since joining the club in 2020, the powerful center has become a key member of the team, playing a starring role in Gallagher's Premier League title win in 2020/21 and scoring 24 goals in 82 appearances. He was also named RPA Player of the Year for 2022 and was part of the South African team that won the Rugby World Cup in France last year.
Esterhuizen celebrates the Rugby World Cup. Photo: Getty Images/Adam Pretty
Speaking about his departure from the club, Esterhuizen said: “I am very grateful to Harlequins for giving me the opportunity to return home to South Africa and be closer to us. my family. It was a difficult decision, but I am very grateful to the club for helping me through this process.
“I really enjoyed my time at Queens, the club played a huge role in my development and career achievements and I had some incredible memories and great teammates. I want to thank the fans for their fantastic support. Playing in front of The Stoop every week is special and I'm looking forward to my last few months at the club. Once a Quinn, always a Quinn!” Harlequins director of rugby Billy Millard added: “Andre has been an integral part of our team for the last four years and we will miss him greatly. We are disappointed to lose a player of his caliber, but we understand and respect his decision and wish him the best of luck in his career in South Africa. We have an important run of matches to finish the season and we look forward to Andre's influence as we strive to achieve our goals.»
Why Andre the Giant is one of Queens' best players 
Esterhuizen has been a colossus for Queens. Photo: AFP/Miguel Medina
The following cannot be said lightly given the quality of centers and overseas players that Harlequins have been fortunate to have over the years, but when Esterhuizen leaves at the end of the season to return to South Africa, he will do so as one of the best midfielders to wear famous quarters, as well as one of the best ways to recruit.
While Esterhuizen returned in 2020 without much external fanfare, having just missed out on South Africa's Rugby World Cup squad, the club's then head of rugby Paul Gustard was both exuberant and visionary, noting that Esterhuizen had «the ability to make a difference in any game through his raw power and strength.»
However, neither player nor club certainly could have imagined that Esterhuizen would achieve such meteoric success, so effective in what has been a problematic situation for England over the last decade that journalists carried out background checks to find out whether even hinting at the possibility that he might end up playing in white at the Grand Stupa across the road. He laughed when Telegraph Sport asked about the idea two years ago. You can't blame anyone for trying.
When it comes to great Harlequins centres, Esterhuizen is in elite company: he goes back to WPC Davies in the 1950s, followed by the best of them all in Will Carling, with Will Greenwood coming in second, not forgetting Jordan Turner -Hall and recently Joe. Marchand. In a team that is all about showmanship and has been brilliantly organized in recent seasons by Danny Care and Marcus Smith, Esterhuizen has been the necessary foil, the strike through the middle that Harlequins need to break down defenses and create space for others.
Even the best defensive plans can't help a fast and powerful player like Esterhuizen, who hits short passes hard and fast with Care of Smith. Two recent Harlequins attempts in Europe come to mind: against Racing 92 in Paris (see video below) and at home against Toulouse, where Esterhuizen trampled an attacking player and shot with such ease it was as if the defense had waved him away. The two defenders were Gael Fickou and Thomas Ramos, they were not too bad at tackling the ball.
Andre Esterhuizen takes the lead 😤
Two quick tries @Harlequins they're in the lead!#InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/FHNWZbxmXt
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) December 10, 2023
Not that Esterhuizen is merely a critic. His game always featured subtle footwork and passing, making him a dream for any defender but him. He was so reliable that when his balance failed him some 18 months ago after a tapped tackle that saw him break away and potentially win the game for Harlequins against Bristol, no one could believe it.
His return a coup for the Sharks in South Africa, who have made a splash and bolstered their squad with returning Springboks but haven't actually won anything yet (and are currently bottom of the United Rugby Championship). For Harlequins, that superb backline of Cara, Smith, Esterhuizen and Marchand is losing another key component.
He has become a huge acquisition, the envy of other Premier League clubs and his type of center. England have been desperately hoping for this of late. In that famous triumph against Exeter away to the Stoop three years ago, Esterhuizen certainly scored, but his defensive work to get the ball in early was also appreciated. As can be seen from the fact that Harlequins decided to release Esterhuizen a year early, they could hardly ask for anything more from Andre the Giant.
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