# Neil Claassen

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Neil_Claassen.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Claassen
> Source revision: 1313035921
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{{short description|South African rugby union player|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
|           name = Neil Claassen
|          image = 
|       fullname = <!--if different-->
|     birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|09|26}}
|    birth_place = [Pretoria](/source/Pretoria), South Africa
|         height = {{height|m=1.97}}
|         weight = {{convert|100|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
|       nickname = 
|     occupation = 
|         school = [HTS Daniel Pienaar](/source/HTS_Daniel_Pienaar), [Uitenhage](/source/Uitenhage) 
                   Paarl Gimnasium 2010(Paarl)
|     university = Freestate

|      relatives = 
|       position = [Lock](/source/Lock_(rugby_union)) / [Flanker](/source/Flanker_(rugby_union))
|    currentclub = 
|    youthyears1 = 2008
|    youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}
|    youthyears2 = 2011–2013
|    youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}}
|         years1 = 2012–2016
|         clubs1 = {{Rut|Free State XV}}
|          apps1 = 16
|        points1 = 10
|         years2 = 2014
|         clubs2 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}}
|          apps2 = 10
|        points2 = 0
|         years3 = 2017–2018
|         clubs3 = {{Rut|Griffons}}
|          apps3 = 30
|        points3 = 35
|     amatyears1 = 2014–2016
|      amatteam1 = {{Rut|UFS Shimlas}}
|      amatapps1 = 20
|    amatpoints1 = 15
|      repyears1 = 2008
|       repteam1 = South Africa Under-16 Elite Squad
|       repcaps1 = 
|     reppoints1 = 
|     clubupdate = 27 October 2018
|      repupdate = 30 July 2014
}}
'''Neil Claassen''' (born {{birth date|df=yes|1992|09|26}} in [Pretoria](/source/Pretoria), South Africa) is a South African [rugby union](/source/rugby_union) player who last played for the {{Rut|Griffons}}.<ref name="SARU Player Profile Neil Claassen">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=45507 | name=Neil Claassen | date=29 May 2016}}</ref> His regular position is lock or flanker.

==Career==

===Youth and Varsity Cup rugby===

He was a member of the Eastern Province side that participated at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2008. His performance in the tournament also earned him an inclusion in an Under-16 Elite Squad in the same year.

He played for youth sides for [Bloemfontein](/source/Bloemfontein)-based side, the {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}}. He played for the {{Rut|Free State U19}} side in the [2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship](/source/2011_Under-19_Provincial_Championship), also captaining the side.<ref name="24 uur">{{cite web | url=http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2011/09/05/VB/15/VBKortSat.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052612/http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2011/09/05/VB/15/VBKortSat.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=8 August 2014 | title=24 uur | work=Volksblad | date=5 September 2011 | access-date=30 July 2014 | language=Afrikaans }}</ref> He progressed to the {{Rut|Free State U21}} squad and started 25 matches for them during the [2012](/source/2012_Under-21_Provincial_Championship) and [2013](/source/2013_Under-21_Provincial_Championship) Under-21 Provincial Championships, also scoring six tries for them during the 2013 competition to make him his side's top try scorer for the competition.<ref name="SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2013 Absa Under 21 Competition">{{SA Rugby Try Scorers | id=1434 | comp=2013 Absa Under 21 Competition | date=5 May 2016}}</ref> This six-try haul also included a brace against eventual champions {{Rut|Western Province U21}}.<ref name="DHL Western Province 32-13 Toyota Free State">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=110644 | homeid=15244 | awayid=15234 | leagueid=1434 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=32 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=Toyota Free State | matchdate=31 August 2013 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref>

In [2014](/source/2014_Varsity_Cup), he represented [Varsity Cup](/source/Varsity_Cup) side {{Rut|UFS Shimlas}}, scoring three tries in seven starts for the university side.

===Free State Cheetahs===

Claassen's first class debut came during the [2012 Vodacom Cup](/source/2012_Vodacom_Cup) competition. He started two matches for the {{Rut|Free State XV}} during the competition, a 34–30 victory over the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}<ref name="Toyota Free State XV 34-30 SWD Eagles">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103641 | homeid=11441 | awayid=11451 | leagueid=1211 | hometeam=Toyota Free State XV | homescore=34 | awayscore=30 | awayteam=SWD Eagles | matchdate=10 March 2012 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref> and a 30–32 defeat to the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} in [Bredasdorp](/source/Bredasdorp) a week later.<ref name="Regent Boland Kavaliers 32-30 Toyota Free State XV">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103721 | homeid=11431 | awayid=11441 | leagueid=1211 | hometeam=Regent Boland Kavaliers | homescore=32 | awayscore=30 | awayteam=Toyota Free State XV | matchdate=17 March 2012 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref> He made a further seven first class appearances during the [2013 Vodacom Cup](/source/2013_Vodacom_Cup) and also scored his first try in their match against the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}.<ref name="South Western Districts 8-31 Toyota Free State XV">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103784 | homeid=11724 | awayid=11734 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=South Western Districts | homescore=8 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=Toyota Free State XV | matchdate=8 March 2013 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref>

After his spell with {{Rut|UFS Shimlas}} in the [2014 Varsity Cup](/source/2014_Varsity_Cup), he returned to the {{Rut|Free State XV}} side to make three appearances towards the end of the [2014 Vodacom Cup](/source/2014_Vodacom_Cup) competition, weighing in with one try in their 54–17 win against the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}}.<ref name="Toyota Free State XV 54-17 Border Bulldogs">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=118084 | homeid=17564 | awayid=17544 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=Toyota Free State XV | homescore=54 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=Border Bulldogs | matchdate=5 April 2014 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref>

He was included in their [Currie Cup](/source/Currie_Cup) squad for the first time prior to the [2014 Currie Cup Premier Division](/source/2014_Currie_Cup_Premier_Division) season.<ref name="Skoolseun in VS se Curriebeker-groep">{{cite web | url=http://www.beeld.com/sport/2014-07-24-skoolseun-in-vs-se-curriebeker-groep | title=Skoolseun in VS se Curriebeker-groep | work=Beeld | date=24 July 2014 | access-date=30 July 2014 | language=Afrikaans}}</ref>

==References==

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Claassen, Neil}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:People educated at Daniel Pienaar Technical High School
Category:Living people
Category:1992 births
Category:Rugby union players from Pretoria
Category:Rugby union locks
Category:Rugby union flankers
Category:Cheetahs (rugby union) players
Category:21st-century South African sportsmen

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Neil Claassen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Claassen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Claassen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.