Namibian back rower Adriaan Booysen played in Major League Rugby between 2020-2024. He represented the Houston SaberCats (2020-2021) and the Dallas Jackals (2022-2023).

Born and raised in Gobabis, Namibia, Booysen attended the University of the Free State in South Africa, studying Law. Between 2016-2017 he played with the Wanderers Rugby Club and, between 2017-2020, the Welwitschias, Namibia’s representation in the Supersport Rugby Challenge, primarily in South Africa. That same year, 2017, Booysen earned his test debut for Namibia against Senegal, and has since represented his country (also nicknamed the Welwitschias) at two Rugby World Cups, in Japan in 2019 and in France in 2023.

Booysen entered MLR in 2020 with the Houston SaberCats, appearing in all 5 games (4 starts) for the ‘Cats, scoring 1 try before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the season. He returned for Houston the following year, appearing in all 16 games of their 2023 season (8 starts) scoring 3 tries. Booysen moved down the I-45 for 2022, joining the Dallas Jackals for their tumultuous inaugural MLR season, scoring his 5th career MLR try and earning 12 appearances. Booysen’s standout season came in 2023. He started all 16 games for the Jackals, scoring a PB 4 tries and carrying for 676m gained, also a PB. He finished 2nd in MLR tackling with 257 completed tackles, almost 120 more than his previous best of 138 in 2021.

achievements

• 2nd in MLR Tackling: 2023 (257)