Player Profile – Luan Giliomee (Charlie Hofmeyr)

Luan Giliomee has been earning new fans with every game he plays this season, impressing week after week at the heart of the Charlie Hofmeyr 1st XV.
Just last Saturday, he took centre stage again in Oudtshoorn, with a 21-point haul, as Charlies extended their unbeaten run for the season by beating Langenhoven Gimnasium away from home.
Always humble in victory, Luan credited their success so far this year to their adaptability as a team.
“I think what’s working for us this season is our ability to play the game in front of us,” he said.
“We believe that if we can play to the best of our abilities, we can overcome any challenge.” They have done just that so far this year, maintaining a 100 percent record after some thrilling matchups.
Luan recalled the Oakdale Rugby Week as one of the highlights of Charlies’ already impressive season. “The competition was really tough, and it brought us a lot closer as a team,” he said.
Not only did he and his team keep an unblemished record on the farm in Riversdal, but Luan was selected as the best backline player of the tournament.
Despite their success, Luan says that it is extremely important to them that they keep their feet planted firmly on the ground. He recalled the first Friday the rookies in the 1st XV were allowed to attend school wearing their team kit and how unsure the younger guys were about whether they had earned the privilege yet.
“That really made me realize how humble the guys all are, and we’ll make sure to keep that attitude, even when it’s going well,” he said.
Born and raised in Ceres, he grew up with an older sister, Lané, and younger brother, Ruben, who are just as passionate about sport as he is.
Lané has earned provincial colours for netball and track and was crowned the Western Cape 400m hurdles champion in 2023.
Young Ruben is also an accomplished track athlete and provincial cricketer. He grabbed the imagination of schoolboy rugby fans last year when he scored a sensational try to help Gericke Primary School claim the Marius Schoeman u12 Sevens crown in Paarl.
“They keep me on my toes,” laughed Luan. “We have a healthy competition between us and while we’re always there to support each other, we also try to push one another to the next level.”
Their unbridled love of sport stems from their parents. Dad, Louis, was an accomplished rugby player and still coaches, and mom, Aldihette, excelled in athletics.
“I’ve had a couple of great coaches and mentors over the years, and I am obviously biased, but my dad has played a huge role in my rugby career,” Luan said.
“He is currently our first team coach, along with two other great mentors, coaches Fanna du Toit and Dillan Demas.
“Another person who has taught me a lot, both on and off the field, is coach Mike Barnard, who is the first team cricket coach this year.”
Luan made waves last year when he represented the Boland region and his proud school with distinction at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, where he earned bronze as part of the SA u18 Sevens team.
“It’s a funny story. I almost didn’t go to the trials because I was still quite young, but my dad encouraged me to give it a shot and Mr JR Foreman made sure we got an invitation. I made the Boland team and by the time the tournament came around I had matured a lot physically and ended up making the SA squad.
“I think it just goes to show, you need to grab any opportunity you get with both hands. You never know what could be coming your way.
“It [the Commonwealth Youth Games] was an amazing experience and I made some friends for life and learned a lot.”

The work he put into sevens and the skills he picked up from top coaches, like Marius Schoeman and Philip Snyman, definitely took Luan’s game to the next level. The Charlie Hofmeyr first team has been unstoppable so far this season, and Luan Giliomee has been instrumental in his role as captain and flyhalf.
His responsibility as the captain is very important to him and it was foremost in his mind when he was asked about his goals for the year. He hoped to lead the team as best he could, Luan said.
“I know I’m not going to make the right decision every time, but I know the guys are always backing me, and I hope to look back at the end of the season and be able to say that I did my best both on and off the field.
“Charlie Hofmeyr is my home away from home, and the team is like a second family. I love them all very much, so I am driven to make them proud.”
While he’s not yet completely settled on where he will be next year, South African rugby fans will be happy to know they’ll still be able to see the exciting young flyer do his thing on the field.
“I’m still figuring it out, and we’re busy putting some plans into place, so I can’t say much, but I definitely want to be playing rugby, and I’ll probably also continue exploring the sevens’ route, wherever I end up going.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play rugby professionally and I’m a big believer in chasing your dreams.”
Luan’s love for the game became crystal clear when he talked about the players he looks up to.
“As a South African and a flyhalf, it’s probably a bit of a cliché, but Handré Pollard‘s got to be up there. The guy who can’t miss. His ability to influence a game from anywhere is amazing.”
He went on to mention others, like Damian McKenzie, Finn Russell and Manie Libbok, as players who are exciting to watch, have a feel for the game, and have the ability to make others look great. Anyone who’s seen Luan play would agree that he has already exhibited some of those traits he admires in the pros.
With a contagious energy and a deeply rooted love for the sport, the future is wide open for whatever the Boland’s budding young star chooses to do with it, but there’s a definite sense that it might involve the oval ball.
“I’m extremely privileged to be where I am, spending time with a group of people who mean a lot to me, doing the thing we all love doing most. I’m extremely appreciative and I try to always remember that, so there’s no stress or pressure. I’m just enjoying it,” he said
“I’ve heard from so many people say how they wish they could play one more game, or how it’s never the same after school. So, I’m really just taking in every moment and enjoying it as much as I can.”
