Neil Claassen
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Pretoria, South Africa | 26 September 1992||
Height | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||
Weight | 100 kg (15 st 10 lb) | ||
School(s) attended | HTS Daniel Pienaar, Uitenhage | ||
Club information | |||
Playing position | Lock / Flanker | ||
Current club | Free State Cheetahs | ||
Youth career | |||
2008 | Eastern Province Kings | ||
2011–13 | Free State Cheetahs | ||
Amateur team(s) | |||
Years | Team | ||
2014– | UFS Shimlas | 13 | (15) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps† | (Pts)† |
2012– | Free State Cheetahs | 22 | (10) |
Representative team(s)‡ | |||
2008 | S.A. Under-16 Elite Squad | () | |
* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 14 April 2015. |
Neil Claassen (born 26 September 1992 in Pretoria, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Free State Cheetahs.[1] 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-based side, the Free State Cheetahs. He played for the Free State U19 side in the 2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship, also captaining the side.[2] He progressed to the Free State U21 squad and started 25 matches for them during the 2012 and 2013 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.[3] This six-try haul also included a brace against eventual champions Western Province U21.[4]
In 2014, he represented Varsity Cup side 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 competition. He started two matches for the Free State XV during the competition, a 34–30 victory over the SWD Eagles[5] and a 30–32 defeat to the Boland Cavaliers in Bredasdorp a week later.[6] He made a further seven first class appearances during the 2013 Vodacom Cup and also scored his first try in their match against the SWD Eagles.[7]
After his spell with UFS Shimlas in the 2014 Varsity Cup, he returned to the Free State XV side to make three appearances towards the end of the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition, weighing in with one try in their 54–17 win against the Border Bulldogs.[8]
He was included in their Currie Cup squad for the first time prior to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division season.[9]
References
- ↑ "SARU Player Profile Neil Claassen". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ↑ "24 uur" (in Afrikaans). Volksblad. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ↑ "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2013 Absa Under 21 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ↑ "Match Breakdown: DHL Western Province vs Toyota Free State". South African Rugby Union. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ↑ "Match Breakdown: Toyota Free State XV vs SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ↑ "Match Breakdown: Regent Boland Kavaliers vs Toyota Free State XV". South African Rugby Union. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ↑ "Match Breakdown: South Western Districts vs Toyota Free State XV". South African Rugby Union. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ↑ "Match Breakdown: Toyota Free State XV vs Border Bulldogs". South African Rugby Union. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ↑ "Skoolseun in VS se Curriebeker-groep". Beeld (in Afrikaans). 24 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
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