Sam Nock
NZ Maori rugby union player (born 1996)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| Born | 18 June 1996 Whangārei, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 85 kg (187 lb; 13 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | St. Kentigern College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early career
Attending 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
In 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
Because 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
Nock 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
Nock is a New Zealander of Māori descent (Ngāpuhi descent).[9]
