{{Short description|South African rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Nicky Steyn | image = | fullname = Nicolaas Phillipus Jacobus Steyn | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|08|02|df=y}} | birth_place = Kroonstad, South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.90}} | weight = {{convert|107|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = Welkom Gymnasium | university = University of the Free State / <br /> Central University of Technology | relatives = | position = No 8 / Flanker | currentclub = | youthyears1 = 2003–2005 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Griffons}} | youthyears2 = 2004 | youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} | youthyears3 = 2006 | youthclubs3 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}} | years1 = 2006–2008 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}} | apps1 = 19 | points1 = 60 | years2 = 2008–2015 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Griffons}} | apps2 = 121 | points2 = 280 | repyears1 = 2012 | repteam1 = South African Barbarians (North) | repcaps1 = 1 | reppoints1 = 0 | clubupdate = 5 September 2015 | repupdate = 19 June 2013 }}

'''Nicolaas Phillipus Jacobus Steyn''' (born 2 August 1985 in Kroonstad) is a former South African rugby union player that made 140 first class appearances for the {{Rut|Griffons}} and the {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}} between 2006 and 2015.<ref name="SARU Player Profile Nicky Steyn">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=35823 | name=Nicky Steyn | date=29 May 2016}}</ref> He usually played as an Eighth man.

==Career==

===Youth===

He represented the {{Rut|Griffons}} at the 2003 Under-18 Craven Week and in the Under-20 and Under-21 Currie Cup competitions in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, he joined the {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}} and represented them at Under-21 level.

===Free State Cheetahs===

He was included in the {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}} squad for the 2006 Vodacom Cup tournament and made his debut against the {{Rut|Leopards}}.<ref name="Impala Leopards 48-17 Vodacom Cheetahs">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=12755 | homeid=5623 | awayid=5621 | leagueid=411 | hometeam=Impala Leopards | homescore=48 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=Vodacom Cheetahs | matchdate=25 March 2006 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref> He made a total of eighteen appearances in the Vodacom Cup competition in 2006, 2007 and 2008, but failed to break into the Currie Cup side.

===Griffons===

He returned to the {{Rut|Griffons}} for the 2008 Currie Cup First Division competition and established himself a regular, making 121 appearances for the side over the next eight seasons, scoring 55 tries.

He was a key member of their 2014 Currie Cup First Division-winning side. He captained the side in the final and helped the Griffons win the match 23–21<ref name="Down Touch Griffons 23-21 Valke">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=133384 | homeid=23034 | awayid=23054 | leagueid=2154 | hometeam=Down Touch Griffons | homescore=23 | awayscore=21 | awayteam=Valke | matchdate=17 October 2014 | date=21 September 2016}}</ref> to win their first trophy for six years.<ref name="Currie Cup Griffons win First Division title">{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/CurrieCup/Griffons-win-First-Division-title-20141017 | title=Currie Cup Griffons win First Division title | publisher=Sport24 | date=17 October 2014 | access-date=21 October 2014}}</ref>

He retired from professional during the 2015 Currie Cup First Division season to accept a job offer as a quantity surveyor in Doha, Qatar.<ref name="Nicky Steyn: Perses groet ’n grote">{{cite web | url=http://www.netwerk24.com/sport/rugby/2015-09-04-perses-groet-n-grote | title=Nicky Steyn: Perses groet 'n grote | work=Netwerk24 | date=4 September 2015 | access-date=4 September 2015}}</ref> He left the Griffons as their all-time top try scorer with 56 tries,<ref name="Griffons - Statistics - SuperSport - Rugby">{{cite web | url=http://www.supersport.com/rugby/currie-cup/griffons | title=Griffons - Statistics - SuperSport - Rugby | work=SuperSport | access-date=4 September 2015}}</ref> and in their top ten for all-time appearances.

===Representative rugby===

In 2012, he was selected for the South African Barbarians (North) team against {{nrut|England}} that toured South Africa as part of the 2012 mid-year rugby test series.<ref name="SA Barbarians teams named">{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SA-Barbarians-teams-named-20120528 | title=SA Barbarians teams named | work=Sport24 | date=28 May 2012 | access-date=28 May 2013}}</ref>

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Steyn, Nicky}} Category:South African rugby union players Category:Living people Category:1985 births Category:Cheetahs (rugby union) players Category:Griffons (rugby union) players Category:Rugby union flankers Category:Rugby union players from the Free State (province) Category:21st-century South African sportsmen