{{Short description|South African rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Neethling Fouché | image = Neethling Fouché 2022.jpg | caption = Fouché in 2022 | fullname = Johann Neethling Fouché | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|01|10|df=y}} | birth_place = Rustenburg, South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.87}} | weight = {{convert|118|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | school = Die Hoërskool Rustenburg, Rustenburg / <br/> Grey College, Bloemfontein | university = University of Pretoria | position = Tighthead prop | currentclub = {{Rut|Stormers}} / {{Rut|Western Province}} | youthyears1 = 2006–2009 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Leopards}} | youthyears2 = 2010–2011 | youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}} | youthyears3 = 2012–2014 | youthclubs3 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} | years1 = 2014 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} | apps1 = 1 | points1 = 0 | years2 = 2016–2017 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls XV}} | apps2 = 4 | points2 = 0 | years3 = 2018–present | clubs3 = {{Rut|Stormers}} | apps3 = 99 | points3 = 20 | years4 = 2018–present | clubs4 = {{Rut|Western Province}} | apps4 = 33 | points4 = 10 | years5 = 2019 | clubs5 = {{Rut|Cheetahs}} | apps5 = 2 | points5 = 5 | amatyears1 = 2014–2017 | amatteam1 = {{Rut|UP Tuks}} | amatapps1 = 15 | amatpoints1 = 5 | repyears1 = 2010 | repteam1 = South Africa Under-18 | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | clubupdate = 07 October 2025 | repupdate = 13 April 2018 }}
'''Johann Neethling Fouché''' (born 10 January 1993) is a South African rugby union player for the {{Rut|Stormers}} in the United Rugby Championship and {{Rut|Western Province}} in the Currie Cup.<ref name="SARU Player Profile Neethling Fouché">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=40876 | name=Neethling Fouché | date=29 May 2016}}</ref> His regular position is tighthead prop.
==Career==
===Youth===
Fouché first earned his first provincial representation at primary school level, being called up by Rustenburg-based side the {{Rut|Leopards}} for the 2006 Under-13 Craven Week competition. In 2009, he once again represented the Leopards, this time for their Under-16 Grant Khomo Week side.
In 2010, however, he moved to Bloemfontein to complete his schooling at Grey College in Bloemfontein. His provincial selection continued at his new school and he represented the Free State in the Under-18 Craven Week tournaments in both 2010 and 2011. In 2010, he was included in a South African Under-18 High Performance squad that played matches against France, England and Namibia.
Fouché also made one appearance for the {{Rut|Free State U19}} side while still at school, coming on as a replacement in their match against the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U19}} in the 2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship.<ref name="Free State 16-13 Blue Bulls">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=20306 | homeid=8561 | awayid=8566 | leagueid=808 | hometeam=Free State | homescore=16 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=Blue Bulls | matchdate=10 September 2011 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref>
===Blue Bulls===
After two years in Bloemfontein, Fouché was on the move again – this time, he moved to Pretoria to join the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}. He appeared in seven of the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U19}} side's matches during the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship and represented the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U21}}s on three occasions during the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship, playing as a loosehead prop instead of his regular tighthead side.
In 2014, he was included in the {{Rut|UP Tuks}} side that played in the 2014 Varsity Cup competition, where he made a single appearance for the Pretoria-based university side against eventual champions {{Rut|UCT Ikey Tigers}}.<ref name="FNB UCT 1ST XV 16-26 FNB UP - TUKS">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=117144 | homeid=17214 | awayid=17174 | leagueid=1694 | hometeam=FNB UCT 1ST XV | homescore=16 | awayscore=26 | awayteam=FNB UP - TUKS | matchdate=24 February 2014 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref> He made his first class debut two weeks later on 8 March 2014, playing off the bench in the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}' 2014 Vodacom Cup First Round match against {{Rut|Griquas}}, with his side suffering a 24–26 loss.<ref name="Vodacom Blue Bulls 24-26 GWK Griquas">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=117824 | homeid=17454 | awayid=17494 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | homescore=24 | awayscore=26 | awayteam=GWK Griquas | matchdate=8 March 2014 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref> That was his only appearance in the competition and he reverted to the Under-21s for the 2014 Under-21 Provincial Championship, where he played seven times and scored three tries – two in their match against {{Rut|Border U21}} in a 143–0 demolition<ref name="Blue Bulls U21 143-0 Border U21">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=120724 | homeid=18454 | awayid=18464 | leagueid=1834 | hometeam=Blue Bulls U21 | homescore=143 | awayscore=0 | awayteam=Border U21 | matchdate=11 July 2014 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref> and another in their match against the {{Rut|Sharks}}.<ref name="Blue Bulls U21 53-25 Sharks U21">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=120754 | homeid=18454 | awayid=18494 | leagueid=1834 | hometeam=Blue Bulls U21 | homescore=53 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=Sharks U21 | matchdate=19 July 2014 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref> Fouché also started the final of the competition, helping the Blue Bulls to a 20–10 victory over {{Rut|Western Province U21}} in Cape Town.<ref name="Western Province U21 10-20 Blue Bulls U21">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=121164 | homeid=18474 | awayid=18454 | leagueid=1834 | hometeam=Western Province U21 | homescore=10 | awayscore=20 | awayteam=Blue Bulls U21 | matchdate=25 October 2014 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref>
Fouché returned to action for {{Rut|UP Tuks}} in the 2015 Varsity Cup, starting in their 29–29 draw against {{Rut|UFS Shimlas}},<ref name="FNB UFS SHIMLAS 29-29 FNB UP - TUKS">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=137534 | homeid=23574 | awayid=23584 | leagueid=2194 | hometeam=FNB UFS SHIMLAS | homescore=29 | awayscore=29 | awayteam=FNB UP - TUKS | matchdate=9 February 2015 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref> before being named as a potential injury replacement for Dayan van der Westhuizen for the {{Rut|Bulls}} in their opening round of the 2015 Super Rugby season against the {{Rut|Stormers}}.<ref name="Vodacom Bulls welcomes back Strauss">{{cite web | url=http://thebulls.co.za/news/2015/02/11/team-announcement-stormers-round-1/ | title=Vodacom Bulls welcomes back Strauss | publisher=Bulls | date=11 February 2015 | access-date=11 February 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211151531/http://thebulls.co.za/news/2015/02/11/team-announcement-stormers-round-1/ | archive-date=11 February 2015 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Stormers squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fouche, Neethling}} Category:South African rugby union players Category:Living people Category:1993 births Category:Rugby union players from Rustenburg Category:South African people of French descent Category:Rugby union props Category:Bulls (rugby union) players Category:Stormers players Category:Cheetahs (rugby union) players Category:Alumni of Grey College, Bloemfontein Category:21st-century South African sportsmen Category:Tuks Rugby Club players Category:South Africa international rugby union players