Houston SaberCats player also co-owns South Africa safari business

HOUSTON — To play rugby you have to be a different breed and Houston SaberCats player Louritz van der Schyff of South Africa fits the bill.

Off the field, he enjoys something just as wild. An outdoor enthusiast? You bet he is.

“Every year when I go back, I spend time – probably two or three weeks – in the outdoors, I hunt, I go on safaris, maybe a photo safari,” van der Schyff told Jason Bristol of KHOU 11.

In fact, van der Schyff is a partner in a safari company called TerraLou Safaris. Want to see lions, rhinos or buffalo? His guides will meet them at a ranch belonging to a family friend.

“We have pretty much everything on our ranch: 37 species,” he said.

His company also offers hunting expeditions. TerraLou is a combination of van der Schyff and his friends.

Those who know van der Schyff well, like assistant coach Vic Meyer who attended the same high school, aren’t surprised he organizes trips.

“The professional model,” Meyer said. “The only thing you can be sure of is that he runs the best safari, that’s for sure.”

“Because he’s organized,” Meyer said.

The SaberCats currently sit in first place in the Major League Rugby Western Conference. The club’s next home game will be on June 8, billed as “713 Night” and the team will wear special powder blue jerseys.

Van der Schyff’s place on the field – he is listed as an inside center – requires him to be a powerful runner. He now also has a fascinating side hustle.

“It’s just love, you know?” he said. “(Being) from South Africa, a lot of people don’t know what’s going on there. So I just helped them, when they go there, have the best experience. Like , I live in my own country. This will always be one of my side jobs.