| Date of birth | (1983-01-04)4 January 1983 (age 42) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | Citrusdal, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 85 kg (13 st 5 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Professional rugby union footballer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derick Hougaard (born 4 January 1983), more commonly known as the 'Liefling van Loftus' is a South African professionalrugby union player who played forLeicester Tigers andSaracens in England. He normally played atflyhalf. Hougaard played for theBlue Bulls in theCurrie Cup competition in South Africa and theBulls in the internationalSuper Rugby competition.
In the 2002 Currie Cup final against theGolden Lions, Hougaard brokeNaas Botha's 15 year record for points scored in a Currie Cup final of 24 by scoring 26, (1 try, 2 drop goals and 5 penalties). This feat at the start of his career and his excellent goal kicking success ratio during the following years earned him the accolade"Liefling van Loftus", anAfrikaans phrase meaning the"sweetheart ofLoftus Versfeld Stadium" inPretoria. Each time Hougaard scored points for theBulls at Loftus, the chorus of aGé Korsten song named"Liefling" was played in the stadium.
Hougaard made his test debut at the age of 20 for theSpringboks during the2003 World Cup as a reserve during the 72 to 6 win overUruguay atSubiaco Oval inPerth, he also scored his first international points, successful in a conversion. After resuming his role as a reserve in the next match againstEngland, Hougaard was promoted to flyhalf for the remaining three games that South Africa played at the World Cup. At the close of the World Cup, Hougaard, with five caps to his name had produced 48 points, including two tries. In the 2003 world cup match againstSamoa, Hougaard was knocked out by a legal but hard tackle fromBrian Lima.
The 2007 Super 14 semi-final saw Hougaard scoring all of his side's 27 points, by means of 8 penalties and a drop goal, against theCanterbury Crusaders at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. This equalledAdrian Cashmore of theAuckland Blues's 1998 record for most points by an individual in a Super Rugby semi-final. This victory was historic since it set up the first ever Super Rugby final between two South African teams. The 2007 Super 14 season was also a personal best in Hougaard's Super Rugby career, having scored 161 points in 14 matches.[2]
In 2008, Hougaard signed for Leicester Tigers rejoining previous Blue Bulls coachHeyneke Meyer[3] as a replacement forAndy Goode who had moved toCA Brive. He made his début againstBath in October 2008.
In 2009, Hougaard signed forSaracens.
In 2013, he married the singer,Karlien van Jaarsveld. The following year, he played her love interest in the music video for her single, "Ek wil nie kwaad gaan slaap nie".[4] They divorced in 2016. They have two sons together, Eliah and Daniel.[5]
In June 2023, Hougaard was hospitalised in a coma after experiencing inflammation of the lungs.[6]