De Kock Steenkamp

De Kock Steenkamp
Personal information
Full nameMichiel de Kock Steenkamp
Born16 February 1987
Williston, South Africa
Height1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight112 kg (17 st 9 lb)
School(s) attendedPaarl Boys' High School
UniversityStellenbosch University
RelativesWilhelm Steenkamp (brother)
Club information
Playing positionLock
Current clubOspreys
Youth career
2005–08Western Province
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeam
2008Maties6(0)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Pts)†
2009–14Western Province62(5)
2010–14Stormers49(0)
2014–Ospreys0(0)
* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 12 July 2014.
† Appearances (Points).

Michiel de Kock Steenkamp (born 16 February 1987) is a South African rugby union footballer. He currently plays for as a lock for Western Province[1] in the Currie Cup and the Stormers in Super Rugby.[2][3][4]

Early life

Steenkamp was born and raised in the Western Cape alongside older brother Wilhelm who went on to play for the Bulls, Sharks, Cheetahs and Force in Super Rugby. He attended Paarl Boys' High School and matriculated in 2005 before going on to study at Stellenbosch University. Whilst there he played Varsity Cup rugby for Maties during the inaugural competition in 2008 and was a late substitute as his side lifted the trophy with a 16–10 victory over UCT.[5]

Career

Steenkamp was a member of various Western Province age-level groups between 2005 and 2008 and made his senior debut against the Natal Sharks during the 2009 Vodacom Cup.[1] He got his first taste of Super Rugby the following year playing seven times for the Stormers but had to largely make do with deputising for absent Springboks such as Andries Bekker for the next 2 years.[4]

2012 could be seen as a break-out year for Steenkamp. Although mainly featuring as a substitute during the Super Rugby season he provided strong cameos from the bench in place of either Bekker or Eben Etzebeth and also led the Stormers line out when either of their star men were injured. He then went on to feature in all of Western Province's games during the 2012 Currie Cup and he was a key man as they landed their first title since 2001 with a 25–19 win over the Natal Sharks.[6]

An injury to Eben Etzebeth which ruled him out of much of the 2013 Super Rugby season saw Steenkamp become firmly entrenched in the Stormers starting XV. He made 13 starts in a largely disappointing campaign for the men from the Cape and earned a reputation as one of the most consistent performers in South African rugby.[1][2] This reputation was enhanced by his performances in the Currie Cup later in the year as he started every game for Western Province. It was a season in which they would again reach the tournament final, but this time they fell just short, losing 33–19 at home to the Sharks.[7]

Steenkamp signed a contract extension in April 2013 to remain in Cape Town until 2015.[8] However, in September 2014, Welsh Pro12 side Ospreys announced that Steenkamp secured an early release from his contract and would join them for the 2014–15 Pro12 season.[9]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "De Kock Steenkamp WP Rugby Player Profile". WP Rugby. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "De Kock Steenkamp Stormers Player Profile". Stormers Rugby. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "De Kock Steenkamp SA Rugby Player Profile". SA Rugby. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "De Kock Steenkamp itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  5. ↑ "UCT vs Maties 7 April 2008 Match Breakdown". SA Rugby. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "The Sharks vs DHL Western Province 27 October 2012 Match Breakdown". SA Rugby. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  7. ↑ "DHL Western Province vs The Sharks 26 October 2013 Match Breakdown". SA Rugby. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "Stormers retain key quartet". Rugby365. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  9. ↑ "Ospreys swoop for a Stormer" (Press release). Ospreys Rugby. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2014.