Neil de Kock
Encyclopedia
Neil de Kock (born 20 November 1978 in Cape Town
) is a rugby union
footballer who plays at scrum half for Saracens
. He has claimed ten caps for South Africa
. Before moving to the Guinness Premiership
in 2006 he had gained a reputation for hard work and personal integrity from his days in South African rugby, representing Western Province
and the Super 14
franchise the Stormers
, having started his professional career at the Griffons
.
. Initially failing to secure a contract with his native Western Province
side, he made the journey to the Griffons
in Free State Province in search of Currie Cup
rugby to start his professional career.
in a team that was to ultimately to produce four Springboks in Lukas Van Biljon, Gavin Passens and Dean Hall as well as de Kock. His performances saw him offered the chance to return to his home union to represent Western Province.
making 52 appearances in a team that won the Currie Cup
in the his first two seasons with the side. In 2001, his second season with Western Province he made the step up to Super 14
(then Super 12) level rugby with the associated Stormers
franchise, going on to make 49 appearances.
Also in the 2001 season, de Kock won his first full international honours with the Springboks against Italy. At international level a frustrating period followed, first in a sequence games sitting unused on the bench, followed by a knee injury offering further chances for his rival at Super 12 and national level, Bolla Conradie
. He forced his way back into contention, appearing in the 2002 Tri Nations
series, starting two games, appearing from the bench in a third and scoring his maiden test try.
The following season saw de Kock continuing to battle for his shirt at Western Province, Stormers and national level, making only one start and a single bench appearance for the Springboks. He was though selected for the Rugby World Cup 2003 South Africa squad, making one starting line up and appearing from the bench three times, as well as scoring his second international try.
Succeeding seasons brought further regular appearances for de Kock for Western Province and the Stormers, but opportunities to fight his way back into the Springbok side were limited and in 2006 he made the move to the northern hemisphere, signing for Saracens
in time for the 2006–07
Guinness Premiership
season.
against London Irish
on 30 September 2006. In his debut season at Saracens de Kock saw off strong competition from the likes of Fijian Mosese Rauluni and the Englishman Alan Dickens
to establish himself as first choice scrum-half, making 25 appearances for the club. He quickly formed an effective partnership with New Zealander Glen Jackson
at fly-half, yielding performances that put him contention for the club's player of the season.
For the 2007–08 season de Kock's leadership role at Saracens was rewarded as he was named as the playing captain for the season, alongside club captain and England stalwart, Richard Hill
.
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
) is a rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who plays at scrum half for Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
. He has claimed ten caps for South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
. Before moving to the Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
in 2006 he had gained a reputation for hard work and personal integrity from his days in South African rugby, representing Western Province
Western Province (rugby team)
DHL Western Province is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The team has won the Currie Cup on 32 occasions and has the most supporters of any Currie Cup team...
and the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
franchise the Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...
, having started his professional career at the Griffons
Griffons (rugby team)
The Griffons, currently referred to as the Tasol Solar Griffons for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
.
Early life
De Kock was educated at Boston Primary, Bellville and The Settlers High School, Bellville before attending Stellenbosch UniversityStellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University is a public research university situated in the town of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Other nearby universities are the University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape....
. Initially failing to secure a contract with his native Western Province
Western Province (rugby team)
DHL Western Province is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The team has won the Currie Cup on 32 occasions and has the most supporters of any Currie Cup team...
side, he made the journey to the Griffons
Griffons (rugby team)
The Griffons, currently referred to as the Tasol Solar Griffons for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
in Free State Province in search of Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
rugby to start his professional career.
Griffons 1999-00
De Kock spent a season playing in Free State Province playing for the GriffonsGriffons (rugby team)
The Griffons, currently referred to as the Tasol Solar Griffons for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
in a team that was to ultimately to produce four Springboks in Lukas Van Biljon, Gavin Passens and Dean Hall as well as de Kock. His performances saw him offered the chance to return to his home union to represent Western Province.
Western Province/Stormers 2000–06
De Kock was to spend 6 seasons with Western ProvinceWestern Province (rugby team)
DHL Western Province is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The team has won the Currie Cup on 32 occasions and has the most supporters of any Currie Cup team...
making 52 appearances in a team that won the Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
in the his first two seasons with the side. In 2001, his second season with Western Province he made the step up to Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
(then Super 12) level rugby with the associated Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...
franchise, going on to make 49 appearances.
Also in the 2001 season, de Kock won his first full international honours with the Springboks against Italy. At international level a frustrating period followed, first in a sequence games sitting unused on the bench, followed by a knee injury offering further chances for his rival at Super 12 and national level, Bolla Conradie
Bolla Conradie
Bolla Conradie is a South African rugby union footballer.- External links :**...
. He forced his way back into contention, appearing in the 2002 Tri Nations
Rugby Union Tri Nations
The Rugby Championship is an international rugby union competition contested annually by Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The competition is organized by SANZAR, a consortium formed by the governing bodies of the Australian Rugby Union, the New Zealand Rugby Union and the South...
series, starting two games, appearing from the bench in a third and scoring his maiden test try.
The following season saw de Kock continuing to battle for his shirt at Western Province, Stormers and national level, making only one start and a single bench appearance for the Springboks. He was though selected for the Rugby World Cup 2003 South Africa squad, making one starting line up and appearing from the bench three times, as well as scoring his second international try.
Succeeding seasons brought further regular appearances for de Kock for Western Province and the Stormers, but opportunities to fight his way back into the Springbok side were limited and in 2006 he made the move to the northern hemisphere, signing for Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
in time for the 2006–07
2006-07 Guinness Premiership
The 2006–07 Guinness Premiership was the 20th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions, played between September 2006 and May 2007. It was announced during the 2005-06 season that the 2006-07 competition would end two weeks early due to the 2007 Rugby World Cup in...
Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
season.
Saracens 2006–present
De Kock made his debut for SaracensSaracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
against London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
on 30 September 2006. In his debut season at Saracens de Kock saw off strong competition from the likes of Fijian Mosese Rauluni and the Englishman Alan Dickens
Alan Dickens (rugby player)
Alan Dickens is a rugby union footballer who plays at scrum half for Northampton Saints, having previously represented Saracens, Sale Sharks and Leeds Carnegie after experience in the national leagues with Manchester Rugby Club and Stourbridge R.F.C....
to establish himself as first choice scrum-half, making 25 appearances for the club. He quickly formed an effective partnership with New Zealander Glen Jackson
Glen Jackson (rugby player)
Glen Warwick Jackson is a former New Zealand rugby union player who now serves as a referee in that sport...
at fly-half, yielding performances that put him contention for the club's player of the season.
For the 2007–08 season de Kock's leadership role at Saracens was rewarded as he was named as the playing captain for the season, alongside club captain and England stalwart, Richard Hill
Richard Hill (flanker)
Richard Hill MBE is a former rugby union footballer who played flanker for Saracens and England.Often portrayed as the 'silent assassin' at both club and international level, his effective and abrasive style of forward play has made him legendary in rugby union circles...
.