Joe van Niekerk

{{Short description|South African rugby union player}} {{for|the South African-born Italian rugby union player|Joe van Niekerk (rugby union, born 1989)}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Joe van Niekerk | image = USO - RCT - 28-09-2013 - Stade Mathon - Johann Christiaan Van Niekerk.jpg | caption = van Niekerk playing in 2013 | birth_name = Johann van Niekerk | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1980|05|14}} | birth_place = [[Port Elizabeth]], South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.93}} | weight = 108 kg | ru_position = [[Flanker (rugby union)|Flanker]]/[[Number 8 (rugby union)|No.8]] | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | ru_amupdate = | repteam1 = {{nrut|South Africa}} | repyears1 = 2001–2010 | repcaps1 = 52 | reppoints1 = 50 | ru_ntupdate = | years1 = 2008–2014 | clubs1 = [[RC Toulonnais|Toulon]] | apps1 = 122 | points1 = 120 | ru_clubupdate = | super1 = [[Lions (Super Rugby)|Lions]] | super2 = [[Stormers]] | superyears1 = 2002–2003 | superyears2 = 2004–2007 | superapps1 = | superpoints1 = | super14update = | province1 = [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] | provinceyears1 = 2004–2007 | provinceapps1 = | provincepoints1 = | ru_provinceupdate = | rl_amateuryears = | rl_amateurclubs = | rl_amupdate = | rl_clubyears = | rl_proclubs = | rl_clubcaps = | rl_clubpoints = | rl_clubupdate = | occupation = | spouse = | children = | school = [[King Edward VII School, Johannesburg]] | university = }}

'''Johann''' "'''Joe'''" '''van Niekerk''' (born 14 May 1980) is a South African former professional [[rugby union]] player who played either as a [[Flanker (rugby union)|flanker]] or [[Number eight (rugby union)|number 8]].

== Career overview == After starring for the South Africa Schools, under-19, and under-21 sides, and captaining at all three levels, van Niekerk received the rare honour of being called up to the [[South Africa national rugby union team|Springboks]] directly from the U21 side in 2001, in spite of never having played a game in either the [[Currie Cup]] or [[Super Rugby|Super 12]].<ref>"Showdown at ... Quiz Creek" 2008, p. 32.</ref> He made his debut against the [[All Blacks]] in [[Cape Town]].

Van Niekerk has experienced injury troubles throughout his senior-level career. When healthy, however, he is considered able to compete with virtually any back-row player in the world. He scored important tries for the Boks in home wins over the [[Australia national rugby union team|Wallabies]] in the [[2002 Tri Nations Series]] and the [[2004 Tri Nations Series]]. He has often been used as an "impact player" off the bench, especially in the [[2005 Tri Nations Series]].

In 2002, he was voted the South African "Player of the Year". In the first match of the [[2008 Tri Nations Series]] against the All Blacks in [[Wellington]], he was a surprise choice to start at No. 8. He was expected to play for the [[Northampton Saints]] however his contract was terminated before he arrived, reportedly because of constant injury problems. In May 2013 he played as a replacement as [[RC Toulonnais|Toulon]] won the [[2013 Heineken Cup Final]] by 16–15 against [[ASM Clermont Auvergne|Clermont Auvergne]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.espn.co.uk/heineken-cup-2012-13/rugby/story/182967.html|title= Toulon claim Heineken Cup glory|date=18 March 2013|work=ESPN|access-date=20 May 2013 }}</ref> After [[2014 Heineken Cup Final]] van Niekerk has officially retired from rugby union.

Van Niekerk resides in [[Costa Rica]] and runs Rama Organica [[organic farm]].<ref>[https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/spiritual-journey-takes-joe-van-niekerk-from-toulon-to-the-jungle-100693 Spiritual journey takes Joe van Niekerk from Springboks to the jungle]</ref>

== Teams == *South African Schools 1997–1998 *South Africa Under-19 1998 *South Africa Under-21 2000/2001 *[[South Africa national rugby sevens team|South African Sevens]] 2001 *Gauteng Lions U21 1998–2001 *Gauteng Lions 2001–2003 *[[Lions (Super Rugby)|Lions]] [[Super Rugby|Super 12]] Team 2002–2003 *[[Stormers]] [[Super Rugby]] Team 2004–2007 *[[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] 2004–2007 *[[South Africa national rugby union team|Springboks]] 2001–2012 *[[Northampton Saints]] (contract was terminated before arrival) *[[RC Toulonnais|Toulon]] (France) 2008 – 2014

===South Africa=== * [[The Rugby Championship|Tri Nations]]: [[2004 Tri Nations Series|2004]]

== References == *''[[SA Sports Illustrated]]''. "Showdown at ... Quiz Creek: [[AJ Venter]] vs [[Stefan Terblanche]]." October 2008: 32.

== Endnotes == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=19893 | name=Joe van Niekerk | date=10 March 2016}} * {{Twitter}}

{{Navboxes |title = Squads |list1 = {{South Africa Squad 2003 World Cup}} }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Niekerk, Joe}} [[Category:1980 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Gqeberha]] [[Category:Afrikaner people]] [[Category:South African people of Dutch descent]] [[Category:South African rugby union players]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]] [[Category:Lions (United Rugby Championship) players]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:Northampton Saints players]] [[Category:Rugby union flankers]] [[Category:Rugby union number eights]] [[Category:Alumni of King Edward VII School (Johannesburg)]] [[Category:RC Toulon players]] [[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in France]] [[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby sevens players]] [[Category:Male rugby sevens players]] [[Category:2003 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England]] [[Category:SA Rugby Men's Player of the Year]]