# Neil de Kock > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Neil_de_Kock > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Neil_de_Kock.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_de_Kock > Source revision: 1313055637 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) South African rugby union player Rugby player Neil de Kock De Kock in 2010 Born Neil de Kock (1978-11-20) 20 November 1978 (age 47) Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) Weight 81 kg (12 st 11 lb)[1] School The Settlers High School, Bellville Boston Primary, Bellville University Stellenbosch University Rugby union career Position Scrum half Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2006–2017 Saracens 250 (70) 1999–2000 Griffons 17 (0) Correct as of 15 February 2015 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 2000–2006 Western Province 52 Correct as of 7 November 2007 Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 2001–2006 Stormers 49 Correct as of 15 May 2011 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2001–2003 South Africa 10 (10) **Neil (Niles) de Kock** (born 20 November 1978) is a retired [rugby union](/source/Rugby_union) footballer who last played at [scrum half](/source/Rugby_union_positions#9._Scrum-half) for [Saracens](/source/Saracens_F.C.). He has claimed ten caps for [South Africa](/source/South_Africa_national_rugby_union_team). Before moving to the [Guinness Premiership](/source/Guinness_Premiership) in 2006 he had gained a reputation for hard work and personal integrity[2] from his days in South African rugby, representing [Western Province](/source/Western_Province_(rugby_team)) and the [Super Rugby](/source/Super_Rugby) franchise the [Stormers](/source/Stormers), having started his professional career at the [Griffons](/source/Griffons_(rugby_team)). ## Early life Born 20 November 1978 in [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town), De Kock was educated at [Boston Primary, Bellville](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Boston_Primary&action=edit&redlink=1) and [The Settlers High School, Bellville](/source/The_Settlers_High_School) before attending [Stellenbosch University](/source/Stellenbosch_University). Initially failing to secure a contract with his native [Western Province](/source/Western_Province_(rugby_team)) side, he made the journey to the [Griffons](/source/Griffons_(rugby_team)) in [Free State Province](/source/Free_State_(province)) in search of [Currie Cup](/source/Currie_Cup) rugby to start his professional career.[3] ## Playing career ### Griffons 1999–2000 De Kock spent a season playing in [Free State Province](/source/Free_State_(province)) playing for the [Griffons](/source/Griffons_(rugby_team)) in a team that was to ultimately to produce four [Springboks](/source/Springboks) in [Lukas Van Biljon](/source/Lukas_Van_Biljon), [Gavin Passens](/source/Gavin_Passens) and [Dean Hall](/source/Dean_Hall_(rugby_union)) as well as De Kock.[4] His performances offered him the chance to return to his home union to represent Western Province.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ### Western Province/Stormers 2000–06 De Kock was to spend 6 seasons with [Western Province](/source/Western_Province_(rugby_team)) making 52 appearances in a team that won the [Currie Cup](/source/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](/source/Super_Rugby) (then Super 12) level rugby with the associated [Stormers](/source/Stormers) franchise, going on to make 49 appearances.[5] Also in the 2001 season, De Kock won his first full international honours with the [Springboks](/source/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](/source/Bolla_Conradie). He forced his way back into contention, appearing in the 2002 [Tri Nations](/source/Rugby_Union_Tri_Nations) series, starting two games, appearing from the bench in a third and scoring his maiden test try.[6] 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](/source/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.[6] 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](/source/Saracens_F.C.) in time for the [2006–07](/source/2006%E2%80%9307_Guinness_Premiership) [Guinness Premiership](/source/Guinness_Premiership) season. ### Saracens 2006–2017 De Kock made his debut for [Saracens](/source/Saracens_F.C.) against [London Irish](/source/London_Irish) on 30 September 2006.[7] In his debut season at Saracens, De Kock saw off strong competition from the likes of Fijian [Mosese Rauluni](/source/Mosese_Rauluni) and the Englishman [Alan Dickens](/source/Alan_Dickens_(rugby_union)) to establish himself as first choice scrum-half, making 25 appearances for the club.[7][8] He quickly formed an effective partnership with New Zealander [Glen Jackson](/source/Glen_Jackson_(rugby_union)) at fly-half, yielding performances that put him contention for the club's player of the season.[7] 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,[5] alongside club captain and England stalwart, [Richard Hill](/source/Richard_Hill_(rugby_union%2C_born_1973)). He started as Saracens won their first Premiership title in 2011.[9] He was a replacement as they won further titles in 2015 and 2016.[10][11] He retired in 2017.[12] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Aviva Premiership Rugby – Saracens"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120203072807/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/saracens.php?section=1). *web page*. Premier Rugby. Archived from [the original](http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/saracens.php?section=1) on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-saruinterview_2-0)** ["SA Rugby Interview"](http://www.sarugby.com/news/News/article/sid=5093.html). SA Rugby. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 5 November 2007. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-SARU_Player_Profile_Neil_de_Kock_3-0)** ["SA Rugby Player Profile – Neil de Kock"](http://www.sarugby.co.za/playerprofile.aspx?id=21293&fullview=true). *South African Rugby Union*. Retrieved 1 June 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-365article_4-0)** ["Lukas, the man of the moment"](http://www.sportonair.com/templates/print_article.html?ref=75224). 365 Corporation. 6 November 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2007. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-keoarticle_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-keoarticle_5-1) ["Discarded Bok skippers Saracens"](http://www.keo.co.za/2007/08/23/discarded-bok-skippers-saracens/). Keo.co.za. 23 August 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2007. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-scrumprofile_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-scrumprofile_6-1) ["Scrum Profile"](http://www.scrum.com/1200_1205.php?player=12291&includeref=dynamic). ESPNscrum. 5 November 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-saracensprofile_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-saracensprofile_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-saracensprofile_7-2) ["Saracens Profile"](http://www.saracens.com/players/view.php?Id=211). Saracens. 5 November 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-gpprofile_8-0)** ["Guinness Premiership Profile"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071215141355/http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=12291&includeref=dynamic). Guinness Premiership. 5 November 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=12291&includeref=dynamic) on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Leicester 18-22 Saracens"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/9496362.stm). [BBC](/source/BBC). 28 May 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Premiership final: Bath 16-28 Saracens"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/32883783). [BBC](/source/BBC). 30 May 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Premiership final: Saracens 28-20 Exeter Chiefs"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36390531). [BBC](/source/BBC). 28 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Aviva Premiership 2017/18: All of the ins and outs"](https://www.englandrugby.com/news/aviva-premiership-2017-all-the-ins-and-outs/). englandrugby.com. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2019.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] ## External links - [Saracens profile](http://www.saracens.com/players/view.php?Id=211) - [Guinness Premiership profile](http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/112_146.php?player=12291&includeref=dynamic) - [scrum.com Profile](http://www.scrum.com/1200_1205.php?player=12291&includeref=dynamic) - ["SA Rugby Player Profile – Neil de Kock"](http://www.sarugby.co.za/playerprofile.aspx?id=21293&fullview=true). *South African Rugby Union*. Retrieved 1 June 2016. v t e South Africa squad – 2003 Rugby World Cup Forwards Bands Bezuidenhout Boome Botha Burger Coetzee Krige (c) Matfield Rautenbach Rossouw Santon Scholtz Sephaka Smit Smith Van Niekerk Backs Barry De Kock Delport Fourie Greeff Hougaard Koen Loubscher Muller Paulse Terblanche Van der Westhuizen Van der Westhuyzen Willemse Coach: Rudolf Straeuli --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Neil de Kock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_de_Kock) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_de_Kock?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.