{{Short description|South African rugby union footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use South African English|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby biography | name = Michael Claassens | image = Michael Claassens - US Oyonnax - Rugby club toulonnais, 28th September 2013.jpg | fullname = <!--if different--> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|10|28|df=y}} | birth_place = Kroonstad, South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.78}} | weight = {{convert|89|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/bath_rugby.php?section=1 |title=Aviva Premiership Rugby – Bath Rugby |work=web page |publisher=Premier Rugby |accessdate=24 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616063352/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/bath_rugby.php?section=1 |archivedate=16 June 2012 }}</ref> | occupation = | school = | university = | relatives = Errie Claassens | position = Scrum half | currentclub = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2003–2006 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}} | apps1 = 64 | points1 = 80 | years2 = 2005 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Cats}} | apps2 = 9 | points2 = 0 | years3 = 2006–2007 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Cheetahs}} | apps3 = 20 | points3 = 0 | years4 = 2007–2013 | clubs4 = Bath | apps4 = 164 | points4 = 155 | years5 = 2013–2015 | clubs5 = {{Rut|Toulon}} | apps5 = 37 | points5 = 0 | years6 = 2015–2017 | clubs6 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}} | apps6 = 27 | points6 = 15 | years7 = 2016–2017 | clubs7 = {{Rut|Sharks}} | apps7 = 29 | points7 = 5 | years8 = 2017–2018 | clubs8 = {{Rut|Sharks XV}} | apps8 = 2 | points8 = 0 | totalyears = 2003–2018 | totalapps = 352 | totalpoints = 255 | repyears1 = 2003 | repteam1 = South Africa Under-21 | repcaps1 = 1 | reppoints1 = 5 | repyears2 = 2004 | repteam2 = South Africa 'A' | repcaps2 = | reppoints2 = | repyears3 = 2004–2007 | repteam3 = {{nrut|South Africa}} | repcaps3 = 8 | reppoints3 = 0 | repyears4 = 2008 | repteam4 = Barbarians | repcaps4 = 2 | reppoints4 = 0 | clubupdate = 30 May 2018 | repupdate = 7 April 2018 }}
'''Michael Claassens''' (born 28 October 1982 in Kroonstad, Free State) is a former South African rugby union player that played professional rugby between 2003 and 2018. He made in excess of 350 senior appearances, including eight test matches for the South Africa national team.
He made his first class debut in 2003 for the {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}}, making 64 appearances for the Bloemfontein-based side between 2003 and 2006. He also played Super Rugby for the {{Rut|Cats}} in 2005 and the {{Rut|Cheetahs}} in 2006 and 2007. He joined Bath in the Premiership in England for the 2007–08 season, where he stayed for six seasons. He then had two seasons at {{Rut|Toulon}} in the Top 14 before returning to South Africa to finish his career at the Durban-based {{Rut|Sharks}}.<ref name="Huge boost for Sharks">{{cite press release|url=http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/index.php/component/articles/?view=article&id=2849604 |title=Huge boost for Sharks |publisher=Sharks |date=9 February 2015 |accessdate=9 February 2015 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
He is the brother of Errie Claassens, also a professional rugby union player.
==Honours== ;Free State Cheetahs *Currie Cup: 2005 ;Bath *European Challenge Cup: 2007–2008 ;Toulon *Heineken Cup European Champions: 2014 *Top 14 French League : 2014
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_2138.html Claassens itsrugby.co.uk profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120716040035/http://www.bathrugby.com/team/first-fifteen-squad/michael-claassens Bath Rugby profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Claassens, Michael}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Rugby union players from Kroonstad Category:Afrikaner people Category:South African rugby union players Category:South Africa international rugby union players Category:Bath Rugby players Category:Barbarian F.C. players Category:RC Toulon players Category:Cheetahs (rugby union) players Category:Stormers players Category:Lions (United Rugby Championship) players Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England Category:Rugby union scrum-halves Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in France Category:21st-century South African sportsmen