In 1970 he was selected to represent the Western Province schools team at the annual Craven Week tournament held in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe).
After school, Bekker enrolled at Paarl Teachers Training College and made his provincial debut for Boland on 24 May 1973 against a touring London Counties team.
Two years later, in 1977 Bekker received his call up for military service and he had to join the Defence Force in Bloemfontein.
The other nominees for the award in 1983 were Divan Serfontein, Carel du Plessis, Liaan Kirkham and Ray Mordt.
On 1 October 1985, Bekker was appointed assistant–organiser for coaching at the South African Rugby Board.