Michael Claassens (born 28 October 1982 in Kroonstad, Free State) is a former South African rugby union player that played professional rugby between 2003 and 2018. He made in excess of 350 senior appearances, including eight test matches for the South Africa national team.
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| Date of birth | 28 October 1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Kroonstad, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 89 kg (14 st 0 lb; 196 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Errie Claassens | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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He made his first class debut in 2003 for the Free State Cheetahs, making 64 appearances for the Bloemfontein-based side between 2003 and 2006. He also played Super Rugby for the Cats in 2005 and the Cheetahs in 2006 and 2007. He joined Bath in the Premiership in England for the 2007–08 season, where he stayed for six seasons. He then had two seasons at Toulon in the Top 14 before returning to South Africa to finish his career at the Durban-based Sharks.[2]
He is the brother of Errie Claassens, also a professional rugby union player.
Honours
edit- Currie Cup: 2005
- European Challenge Cup: 2007–2008
References
edit- ^ "Aviva Premiership Rugby – Bath Rugby". web page. Premier Rugby. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ "Huge boost for Sharks" (Press release). Sharks. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.[permanent dead link]