Sam J. Nock[1] (born 18 June 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a halfback for Northland in the Bunnings NPC and the Blues in the Super Rugby competition.[2][3][4][5][6]
| Date of birth | 18 June 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Whangārei, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 85 kg (187 lb; 13 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | St. Kentigern College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early career
editAttending Saint Kentigern College in Auckland, Nock's talent was clear from an early age as he played for their top side for 3 years and captained them to national and world schools championship titles in his senior year.[6]
Senior career
editIn his first year out of school, Nock returned home to play for the Northland Taniwha. He played all 10 games for them during what proved to be a torrid 2015 campaign which saw them finish bottom of the Championship standings with no wins to show for their efforts. He continued to be first choice number 9 for the Taniwha in 2016, but injury ended his season early after he had started the first 7 games of the year.[3]
Super Rugby
editBecause of Nock's promise as a school boy at Saint Kentigern College the Blues Super Rugby franchise announced in June 2015 that they'd signed him on a 3 year contract before he'd even played any national provincial championship rugby.[4] He gained a season's experience at provincial level before joining up with the Blues ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season. He spent the season as third choice halfback behind Bryn Hall and Billy Guyton. When Guyton fell ill prior to the match against the Hurricanes at Eden Park, Nock was called into the Blues 23 man squad and debuted as a second half replacement for Bryn Hall in a 19-23 loss.[6]
In the quarter final of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season Nock played his 50th game for the Blues against the Highlanders.
International
editNock represented New Zealand Schoolboys in 2014 and then was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 side which finished 5th in the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship which was held in England.[7][8] After first playing for the Māori All Blacks in 2018 Nock was again named in the side in 2021.
Personal life
editNock is a New Zealander of Māori descent (Ngāpuhi descent).[9]
References
edit- ^ "Sam J Nock". New Zealand Rugby History. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
- ^ "Sam Nock Northland Taniwha Player Profile". Taniwha Rugby. Archived from the original on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ a b "Sam Nock itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ a b "Blues sign young St Kents halfback Sam Nock for next three Super Rugby seasons". Stuff.co.nz. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ "Blues 2017 Squad Guide" (PDF). All Blacks.com. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "Sam Nock Blues Player Profile". Blues Rugby. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ "Sam Nock New Zealand Under 20 Player Profile". All Blacks.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ "NZ squad named for World Rugby Under 20 Championship". All Blacks.com. 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ "Player Profile: Sam Nock". All Blacks (Official Site). Retrieved 16 July 2024.