Growing up in Pretoria, South Africa, Riekert Hattingh was immersed in rugby. It’s practically a religion in the often fractious country, and most boys, regardless of their race, dream of playing it at the highest level. But Hattingh also had another motivating factor. Both his father, Drikus Hattingh, and his uncle, Ruben Kruger, played for the South African national team, the Springboks.
“My father imparted a deep love of the game and the drive to always improve. One of his mottos for life is that the problem with most people is they would be rather ruined by praise than saved by criticism. To this day, he challenges me to improve myself continually in all aspects of life. “
But when Hattingh wasn’t out on the pitch grinding it out in a scrum or defending against a try, he spent time outside in the African wilderness. His family owned sheep and cattle farms, and he would hike or ride horses or dirt bikes through the rugged landscape. His Afrikaner friends (those residents who descended from the Dutch colonists) and he would spend hours hunting deer, jackrabbits, porcupines, and even jackals. At night, they would build bonfires and eat fresh biltong, an air-cured meat flavored with vinegar and spices.
“Growing up in South Africa was very immersive. You are surrounded by colorful sights and smells, even more so when you go out into the bush. It was a life with minimal technology; it still kind of is. After a dusty day, we would end up sipping brandy and cokes by the fire under a brilliant sky.”
"For as long as I can remember, I have had a rugby ball in my hand; it's an extension of my body. While I love the physical side of it, I live for the game's competitiveness."
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He worked his way through the South African rugby system, honing his skills against some of the best junior players in the world. The country has won the Rugby World Cup four times, including the famous 1995 game memorialized in the movie Invictus, the most of any nation.
At 24, he arrived in Seattle for the inaugural season of Major League Rugby. Almost immediately, he found himself in a leadership position when the Seawolves coach couldn’t secure a visa to work in the U.S. So, Hattingh and another player took over preparing the team for the upcoming season.
His teammates were impressed and selected him as captain, a position he has held to this day. Functioning as a player-coach that first season, he led the squad to the top, winning the championship. They repeated this the following season under a full-time coach, with Hattingh maintaining his unique role.
When you first see Hattingh, you can see why he has been successful in rugby. Standing 6 ft 5 inches with broad shoulders, burly arms, and a bushy beard, he seems like the prototypical rugger. Known for his powerful runs and bone-rattling tackles, he is a mainstay for the team in the Number Eight position.
His broad smile and easygoing Afrikaans accent have made him a fan favorite. In a city known for its characters, he easily fits in. The fact that he has spent over half a decade in a region that he couldn’t have dreamed of as a child is not lost on him.
“Even though Seattle and Praetoria are basically on the opposite ends of the spectrum, the cold and rainy weather initially shocked me; I’ve grown to love the Pacific Northwest. I don’t think I could ever move back to South Africa; I have become Americanized.”
That’s a good thing for the burgeoning American rugby scene, which is slowly catching up to the rest of the world. Part of the mandate for eleven teams in Major League Rugby is to focus on developing American rugby players with an eye toward 2031, when the United States will host the Rugby World Cup. While Hattingh will probably be too old to play on that team, he has represented the USA Men’s National Team since 2021. He spends time coaching young players to keep the pipeline filled when he is not playing.
“For as long as I can remember, I have had a rugby ball in my hand; it’s an extension of my body. While I love the physical side of it, I live for the game’s competitiveness. It teaches you that you will only get better if you work hard and embrace both the good and the bad. Rugby is a lot like life in that manner.”
