Neil Claassen

He was a member of the Eastern Province side that participated at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2008. His performance in the tournament also earned him an inclusion in an Under-16 Elite Squad in the same year.

He played for youth sides for Bloemfontein-based side, the Free State Cheetahs. He played for the Free State U19 side in the 2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship, also captaining the side.^[2] He progressed to the Free State U21 squad and started 25 matches for them during the 2012 and 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championships, also scoring six tries for them during the 2013 competition to make him his side's top try scorer for the competition.^[3] This six-try haul also included a brace against eventual champions Western Province U21.^[4]

In 2014, he represented Varsity Cup side UFS Shimlas, scoring three tries in seven starts for the university side.

Claassen's first class debut came during the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition. He started two matches for the Free State XV during the competition, a 34–30 victory over the SWD Eagles^[5] and a 30–32 defeat to the Boland Cavaliers in Bredasdorp a week later.^[6] He made a further seven first class appearances during the 2013 Vodacom Cup and also scored his first try in their match against the SWD Eagles.^[7]

After his spell with UFS Shimlas in the 2014 Varsity Cup, he returned to the Free State XV side to make three appearances towards the end of the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition, weighing in with one try in their 54–17 win against the Border Bulldogs.^[8]

He was included in their Currie Cup squad for the first time prior to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division season.^[9]