Born in Durbanville, Louw attended Paul Roos Gymnasium before playing provincial rugby for Transvaal (now known as the Golden Lions). He made his only appearances for South Africa during Great Britain's 1891 tour, South Africa's first as a Test nation. The series was won 3–0 by Great Britain, Louw played as a forward in all three Tests. He died in 1936, in Bloemfontein, at the age of 68.