He represented the TUT Vikings in Varsity Cup rugby in the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons, making twenty five appearances in total.
Van Rooyen was also in the South African police service for 2 years before getting a pro contract after varsity stating that he always wanted to follow in his father's footsteps as a police officer despite going to varsity He also played for Irish side City of Armagh in the 2011–2012 Ulster Senior League.
[2] In 2013, after impressing at amateur club level with Pretoria Police, he joined Johannesburg-based team the Golden Lions.
He made his first class debut in the opening match of the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, coming on as a substitute against the Leopards.
[7] He was then included in the Lions squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season[8] and made his debut in a 21–20 victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.