Maks van Dyk
Full nameNicolaas Johannes John van Dyk
Date of birth (1992-01-21) 21 January 1992 (age 32)
Place of birthJohannesburg, South Africa
Height1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight118 kg (18 st 8 lb; 260 lb)
SchoolPaarl Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Youth career
2010 Western Province
2011 Sharks U19
2012–2013 Sharks U21
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2013 Sharks XV 10 (0)
2014–2016 Cheetahs 39 (0)
2014 Griquas 14 (5)
2014–2015 → Leinster 1 (0)
2015 Free State Cheetahs 4 (0)
2016–2020 Toulouse 67 (10)
2020 Harlequins 1 (0)
2020 Worcester Warriors 2 (0)
2020 – Pau 5 (0)
Correct as of 7 October 2021
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 South Africa Under-20 4 (0)
2015 Barbarians 1 (0)
Correct as of 24 January 2014

Nicolaas Johannes John "Maks" van Dyk (born 21 January 1992) is a South African professional rugby union player for Houston Sabercats.[1] His regular position is prop.

Career

Youth

As a scholar at Paarl Boys' High School, Van Dyk represented Western Province at the Under-18 Academy Week and Craven Week competitions in 2010. He then moved to Durban to join the Sharks academy. He played for the Sharks U19 side during the 2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition and for the Sharks U21 in 2012 – scoring three tries in the competition – and 2013.

2012 IRB Junior World Championship

In 2012, Van Dyk was part of the South Africa Under-20 side that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship held in South Africa. He made substitute appearances in the matches against Ireland[2] and England[3] and started the semi-final against Argentina[4] and the final against New Zealand.[5]

Sharks

Van Dyk made his first two first class appearances for the Sharks XV during the 2012 Vodacom Cup, coming on as a substitute against the Free State XV in Bloemfontein[6] and against the SWD Eagles in Durban.[7]

Van Dyk became a regular in the team during the 2013 Vodacom Cup, starting six of their eight matches (his first senior start coming against Western Province in Cape Town)[8] and coming on as a substitute in the other two.

Griquas

Van Dyk joined Kimberley-based side Griquas prior to the 2014 season[9] and was also included in the training squad for the Griquas' Super Rugby side, the Cheetahs.[10] He made his Super Rugby debut for the Cheetahs in a 21–20 defeat to the Lions in Bloemfontein.[11][12]

Leinster

Van Dyk joined Irish Pro12 side Leinster on a two-month loan deal in November 2014 during the South African rugby off-season. He made his debut in Leinster's 21–11 victory over Irish rivals Connacht in Round 10 of the 2014–15 Pro12, his only appearance for the Dublin-based side.

Cheetahs

Van Dyk joined Port Elizabeth-based sideEastern Province Kings for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, even though he was still available for theCheetahs during the 2015 Super Rugby season.[13][14] He joined in pre-season training with the Kings prior to the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division, but negotiated an early release from his contract and a return to theFree State Cheetahs without playing a match for the Kings.[15]

Toulouse

Van Dyk moved to France to joinToulouse prior to the 2016–17 Top 14 season.[16]

Harlequins

In August 2020, it was confirmed that van Dyk had signed a short-term with Harlequins for the remainder of the 2019–20 season.[17]

Exeter Chiefs

In November 2020 it was announced that van Dyk would join Exeter Chiefs ahead of the 2020–21 season on an initial one-year deal.[18]

References

  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Maks van Dyk". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Match Details: South Africa v Ireland". IRB. 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Match Details: South Africa v England". IRB. 12 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Match Details: Argentina v South Africa". IRB. 17 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Match Details: South Africa v New Zealand". IRB. 22 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  6. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State XV 38–51 Sharks XV". South African Rugby Union. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  7. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Sharks XV 38–20 SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  8. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 23–24 Sharks XV". South African Rugby Union. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Drie Bulle, nóg agt op pad na Griekwas". Media24 (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Greeff speel plek oop". Media24 (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  11. ^ "Match Centre: Cheetahs v Lions". SANZAR. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  12. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Cheetahs 20–21 Lions". South African Rugby Union. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  13. ^ "GW word Haai ryker". Volksblad (in Afrikaans). Netwerk24. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  14. ^ "New signings for Kings" (Press release). Kings. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  15. ^ "Maks van Dyk gee Vrystaat 'n hupstoot". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 4 August 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  16. ^ "Transfert : Maks Van Dyk a signé à Toulouse". L'Équipe (in French). 12 June 2016. Archived from the original on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  17. ^ "Harlequins sign van Dyk on short-term deal". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Van Dyk seals move to the Chiefs". www.exeterchiefs.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
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