Schalk Willem Petrus Burger Jr. (born 13 April 1983)[1] is a South African former professional rugby union player.

Burger attended high school at Paarl Gimnasium, along with future teammate and Springbok captain Jean de Villiers, and enjoyed success in many sports.

Burger attended Stellenbosch University and stayed in Eendrag Men's Residence before leaving in order to pursue a full-time rugby career.

In 2004, Burger was selected as part of a rejuvenated Springbok squad which, under the guiding hand of new coach Jake White, went on to win the Tri-Nations trophy for the first time since Nick Mallett's team managed the feat in 1998.

After an indifferent 2006 Super 14 season, during which Burger showed only flashes of the brilliance that took him to the peak of world rugby, he was to once again start in his favoured number 6 shirt ( openside flanker in South African rugby) in the national team for the upcoming expanded Tri-Nations test series against Australia and New Zealand.

[6] During the Springboks' first match of the Rugby World Cup against Samoa, Burger was cited for a high tackle on Junior Polu, and on 11 September was given a four-match suspension which would have in theory kept him out of the team until the semi-final.

[7] Burger would return to play a key role in South Africa's World Cup triumph as the Springboks defeated England 15–6 to lift the Webb Ellis trophy for the second time in four attempts.

In March 2008, Burger was banned for openly abusing a touch judge in a Super 14 game for the Stormers against the Sharks in Durban.

After another great season which saw the Stormers finish just short of making the play-offs, Burger was selected by new coach Peter de Villiers for the Springboks' 2008 Tri Nations campaign.

The incident was seen by touch judge Bryce Lawrence who reported it to match referee Christophe Berdos, who awarded a yellow card.

Burger was subsequently cited by the commissioning officer for "making contact with the eye area"[10] and then handed an eight-week ban.

During preparations for the 2013 Super Rugby season, Burger pulled up during a running exercise after experiencing spasms in his left calf.

[17] Burger resumed training at the end of July,[17] but was reluctant to set a definite return date: To give a timeline is quite difficult...

That, in itself, is exciting news and I look forward to increasing my training schedule over the next few weeks with the help of the strength and conditioning team at WP Rugby.

[19] On 2 June, it was announced that Burger had signed a two-year contract with Japanese Top League side Suntory Sungoliath.

[21][22] For the 2014 June test series against Wales and Scotland, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer named Burger and Victor Matfield in the squad of 36 players.

Burger was also drawn into 2015 RWC sponsors Société Générale's dream team,[29] taking the position of openside flanker.

Dismissing any notion of continuing to play for the Springboks in 2016 and beyond, Burger had suggested the commencement of his international retirement after the 2015 RWC Bronze Final.

[38] When not playing rugby, Burger lives and works with his family on the Welbedacht Wine Estate near Wellington, Western Cape.