{{Short description|South African rugby union player}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Neil de Kock | image = Neil de Kock 2010.jpg | caption = De Kock in 2010 | birth_name = Neil de Kock | birth_place = [[Cape Town]], [[Western Cape]], [[South Africa]] | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{height|m=1.75}} | weight = {{convert|81|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/saracens.php?section=1 |title= Aviva Premiership Rugby – Saracens |work= web page |publisher= Premier Rugby |access-date= 24 September 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120203072807/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/saracens.php?section=1 |archive-date= 3 February 2012 }}</ref> | position = [[Rugby union positions#9. Scrum-half|Scrum half]] | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | amatapps1 = | amatpoints1 = | ru_amupdate = | years1 = 2006–2017 | years2 = 1999–2000 | clubs1 = [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] | clubs2 = [[Griffons (rugby team)|Griffons]] | apps1 = 250 | apps2 = 17 | points1 = 70 | points2 = 0 | ru_clubupdate = 15 February 2015 | super1 = [[Stormers]] | superyears1 = 2001–2006 | superapps1 = 49 | superpoints1 = | ru_currentclub = | super14update = 15 May 2011 | province1 = [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] | provinceyears1 = 2000–2006 | provinceapps1 = 52 | provincepoints1 = | ru_provinceupdate = 7 November 2007 | repsevensyears1 = | repsevenscomp1 = | ru_sevensupdate = | repteam1 = [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] | repyears1 = 2001–2003 | repcaps1 = 10 | reppoints1 = 10 | ru_ntupdate = | coachteams1 = | coachyears1 = | ru_coachupdate = | city_vs_country_years = | city_vs_country_team = | city_vs_country_caps = | city_vs_country_points = | city_vs_country_update = | school = [[The Settlers High School|The Settlers High School, Bellville]]<br/>[[Boston Primary|Boston Primary, Bellville]] | university = [[Stellenbosch University]] | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|11|20|df=yes}} }}
'''Neil (Niles) de Kock''' (born 20 November 1978) is a retired [[rugby union]] footballer who last played at [[Rugby union positions#9. Scrum-half|scrum half]] for [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]]. He has claimed ten caps for [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]. Before moving to the [[Guinness Premiership]] in 2006 he had gained a reputation for hard work and personal integrity<ref name="saruinterview">{{cite news |title=SA Rugby Interview |publisher=SA Rugby |date=14 September 2006 |url=http://www.sarugby.com/news/News/article/sid=5093.html |access-date=5 November 2007 }}</ref> from his days in South African rugby, representing [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] and the [[Super Rugby]] franchise the [[Stormers]], having started his professional career at the [[Griffons (rugby team)|Griffons]].
==Early life== Born 20 November 1978 in [[Cape Town]], De Kock was educated at [[Boston Primary|Boston Primary, Bellville]] and [[The Settlers High School|The Settlers High School, Bellville]] before attending [[Stellenbosch University]]. Initially failing to secure a contract with his native [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] side, he made the journey to the [[Griffons (rugby team)|Griffons]] in [[Free State (province)|Free State Province]] in search of [[Currie Cup]] rugby to start his professional career.<ref name="SARU Player Profile Neil de Kock">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=21293 | name=Neil de Kock | date=1 June 2016}}</ref>
==Playing career==
===Griffons 1999–2000=== De Kock spent a season playing in [[Free State (province)|Free State Province]] playing for the [[Griffons (rugby team)|Griffons]] in a team that was to ultimately to produce four [[Springboks]] in [[Lukas Van Biljon]], [[Gavin Passens]] and [[Dean Hall (rugby union)|Dean Hall]] as well as De Kock.<ref name="365article">{{cite news |title=Lukas, the man of the moment |publisher=365 Corporation |date=6 November 2007 |url=http://www.sportonair.com/templates/print_article.html?ref=75224 |access-date=6 November 2007 }}</ref> His performances offered him the chance to return to his home union to represent Western Province.{{cn|date=July 2025}}
===Western Province/Stormers 2000–06=== De Kock was to spend 6 seasons with [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] making 52 appearances in a team that won the [[Currie Cup]] in his first two seasons with the side. In 2001, his second season with Western Province he made the step up to [[Super Rugby]] (then Super 12) level rugby with the associated [[Stormers]] franchise, going on to make 49 appearances.<ref name="keoarticle">{{cite news |title=Discarded Bok skippers Saracens |publisher=Keo.co.za |date=23 August 2007 |url=http://www.keo.co.za/2007/08/23/discarded-bok-skippers-saracens/ |access-date=6 November 2007 }}</ref>
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 [[Rugby Union Tri Nations|Tri Nations]] series, starting two games, appearing from the bench in a third and scoring his maiden test try.<ref name="scrumprofile">{{cite news |title=Scrum Profile |publisher=ESPNscrum |date=5 November 2007 |url=http://www.scrum.com/1200_1205.php?player=12291&includeref=dynamic |access-date=5 November 2007 }}</ref>
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.<ref name="scrumprofile"/>
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 F.C.|Saracens]] in time for the [[2006–07 Guinness Premiership|2006–07]] [[Guinness Premiership]] season.
=== Saracens 2006–2017 === De Kock made his debut for [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] against [[London Irish]] on 30 September 2006.<ref name="saracensprofile">{{cite news |title=Saracens Profile |publisher=Saracens |date=5 November 2007 |url=http://www.saracens.com/players/view.php?Id=211 |access-date=5 November 2007 }}</ref> In his debut season at Saracens, De Kock saw off strong competition from the likes of Fijian [[Mosese Rauluni]] and the Englishman [[Alan Dickens (rugby union)|Alan Dickens]] to establish himself as first choice scrum-half, making 25 appearances for the club.<ref name="saracensprofile"/><ref name="gpprofile">{{cite news |title=Guinness Premiership Profile |publisher=Guinness Premiership |date=5 November 2007 |url=http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=12291&includeref=dynamic |access-date=5 November 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071215141355/http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=12291&includeref=dynamic <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 15 December 2007}}</ref> He quickly formed an effective partnership with New Zealander [[Glen Jackson (rugby union)|Glen Jackson]] at fly-half, yielding performances that put him contention for the club's player of the season.<ref name="saracensprofile"/>
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,<ref name="keoarticle"/> alongside club captain and England stalwart, [[Richard Hill (rugby union, born 1973)|Richard Hill]]. He started as Saracens won their first Premiership title in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/9496362.stm |title=Leicester 18-22 Saracens |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=28 May 2011 |access-date=14 May 2019}}</ref> He was a replacement as they won further titles in 2015 and 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/32883783|title=Premiership final: Bath 16-28 Saracens |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=30 May 2015 |access-date=14 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36390531|title=Premiership final: Saracens 28-20 Exeter Chiefs |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=28 May 2016 |access-date=14 May 2019}}</ref> He retired in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.englandrugby.com/news/aviva-premiership-2017-all-the-ins-and-outs/ |title=Aviva Premiership 2017/18: All of the ins and outs |publisher=englandrugby.com |date=29 August 2017 |access-date=14 May 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.saracens.com/players/view.php?Id=211 Saracens profile] * [http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=12291&includeref=dynamic Guinness Premiership profile] * [http://www.scrum.com/1200_1205.php?player=12291&includeref=dynamic scrum.com Profile] * {{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=21293 | name=Neil de Kock | date=1 June 2016}}
{{South Africa Squad 2003 World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:De Kock, Neil}} [[Category:1978 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Afrikaner people]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Cape Town]] [[Category:South African people of Dutch descent]] [[Category:Rugby union scrum-halves]] [[Category:South African rugby union players]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]] [[Category:Saracens F.C. players]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England]] [[Category:2003 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]]