Kees Lensing
Birth name | Gideon "Kees" Lensing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 1 June 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Keetmanshoop, Namibia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 125 kg (276 lb; 19.7 st) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Gideon "Kees" Lensing (born 1 June 1978 in
Professional rugby career
Lensing played for the Namibia national rugby union team in the 2003 Rugby World Cup and the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He was Captain of the Namibia National Team from 2006 to 2009, and ultimately played 24 matches[1] for Namibia (including leading the team at the 2007 World Cup).[2]
Coaching career
Following a back injury, Lensing retired from his career as a player and transitioned into coaching in 2011.
Lensing relocated to New York City and signed as forwards coach of
Professional rugby career
South Africa
Lensing played for six teams during his professional rugby career. He made his professional debut at age 21 with South Africa's
In 2001, Lensing was selected for the South African National Rugby Union Team, the Springboks, U/23 Group, but had to withdraw due to a knee injury.
From 2002 to 2003, Lensing played with the Mighty Elephants (South Africa). He also made his debut for the Namibian National Side during this time (2002), and at age 25 he represented Namibia at the 2003 Rugby World Cup as first choice loose head prop.
From 2004 to 2005, he signed with the
Europe
In 2006, Lensing signed a three-year contract to play for
In 2007, at age 29, Lensing represented Namibia for the second time at the Rugby World Cup, this time as Team Captain.[13] Although he was living in South Africa at the time, Lensing was barred from playing for South Africa under World Rugby Regulations[14] because he had already represented Namibia in the 2003 World Cup.
In 2008, Lensing signed with Castres Olympique (France) in the Top 14 French rugby union league. He continued to play for the Namibian national team until 2009. In 2010, after helping Namibia qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Lensing announced his retirement at the age of 32.
In 2014, Lensing played for the Classic Springboks (South Africa), at the World Rugby Classic in Bermuda.[15]
Coaching career
South Africa
In 2011, Lensing completed his Level 1 and Level 2 World Rugby (International Rugby Board) coaching certification and began coaching both players and other coaches. He first worked as a Forward Coach with the South African Correctional Services team in 2011.
In 2012, Lensing became a forwards coach with the Blue Bulls Tuks Rugby Academy at the University of Pretoria.[16] Within the year he transitioned to head coach, and in November 2012 he became a scrum and forwards coach of the Tuks team.
In 2013, Lensing was named Forward Coach of the Limpopo Blue Bulls, U/21.
In 2014, he was selected as Forward Coach at the Investec International Rugby Academy in South Africa.[17]
Overseas
In 2015, Lensing was recruited as Specialist Scrum/Forward and Defense Coach of the
In 2018,
Successive clubs
- Northern Free State Griffons(South Africa) 1999–2001
- Eastern Province Elephants (South Africa) 2002–2003
- Blue Bulls (South Africa) 2004–2005
- Leeds Tykes (England) 2005–2006
- Sharks (South Africa) 2006–2007
- Castres Olympique (France) 2008
References
- ^ "Kees Lensing | Rugby Union | Players and Officials | ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ Sport, PA. "Lensing tips players to make pro grade". Retrieved 24 August 2016.
- ^ OFM. "Lensing leaves". OFM. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
- ^ "canon-eagles – japonrugby". japonrugby.net. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
- ^ "Rugby United New York Signs Kees Lensing as Forwards Coach - djcoilrugby". djcoilrugby. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
- ^ "Scrumming machine Kees is no ape". SuperSport official website. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "Leeds win chase to land Lensing". BBC. 10 June 2005. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "Lensing to leave the Bulls | IOL". Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- ^ "Sharks sign Kees Lensing – Super Rugby | Super 18 Rugby and Rugby Championship News,Results and Fixtures from Super XV Rugby". Super Rugby | Super 18 Rugby and Rugby Championship News,Results and Fixtures from Super XV Rugby. 3 May 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "Sharks sign Kees Lensing". ESPN. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "Hugh Godwin: A new elite: Vickery and the props of big wages". The Independent. 30 September 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "Smith attacks Lensing over move". BBC. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "2007 Rugby World Cup squads". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ worldrugby.org. "Rugby World Cup". worldrugby.org. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "World Rugby Classic Bermuda – The 2014 World Rugby Classic". worldrugby.bm. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- ^ Website, University of Pretoria Archived (26 March 2012). "University of Pretoria Archived Website". archivedpublicwebsite.up.ac.za. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "South African Rugby Academy | Rugby Academy | Rugby Player Courses | Rugby Coaching Courses". Investec Rugby Academy. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "Lensing to Japan". SuperSport official website. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "TOP LEAGUE OFFICIAL SITE – ジャパンラグビートップリーグ公式サイト". TOP LEAGUE OFFICIAL SITE – ジャパンラグビートップリーグ公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "Rugby United New York Signs Forwards Coach Kees Lensing". rugbyunitedny.com. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
External links
- Lensing to Japan. SuperSport. 20 April 2015.
- Prop Lensing to lead Namibia. Sky Sports. 1 January 2007.
- Sharks sign Kees Lensing. News 24. 4 May 2006.
- ESPN profile. Last updated 28 November 2009.
- Sharks profile. Sharks Rugby. 2006.