Vincent Koch

Vincent Koch
Koch playing in 2022
Full nameVincent Philip Koch
Date of birth (1990-03-13) 13 March 1990 (age 34)
Place of birthEmpangeni, South Africa
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight118 kg (18 st 8 lb; 260 lb)
SchoolGrantham Park Primary School,
Huguenot High School
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
Notable relative(s)Divan Koch
Rugby union career
Position(s) Tighthead Prop
Current team Sharks
Youth career
2006–2008 Boland Cavaliers
2009–2010 Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2012 UP Tuks 10 (0)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 Blue Bulls 3 (5)
2012–2016 Pumas 51 (40)
2015–2016 Stormers 33 (35)
2016–2022 Saracens 110 (50)
2022 Wasps 0 (0)
2022–2023 Stade Français 12 (0)
2023– Sharks 8 (10)
Correct as of 27 October 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 South Africa President's XV 2 (0)
2015 Springbok XV 1 (0)
2015–present South Africa 50 (0)
2016 South Africa 'A' 1 (0)
Correct as of 9 August 2022
Medal record
Men's Rugby union
Representing  South Africa
Rugby World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2019 Japan Squad
Gold medal – first place 2023 France Squad

Vincent Philip Koch (born 13 March 1990) is a South African professional rugby union player who currently plays for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship and the South Africa national team.[1][2]

Club career

Koch regularly plays as a prop and has previously represented the Blue Bulls, UP Tuks and the Pumas.

He joined the Stormers for the 2015 Super Rugby season, but returned to the Pumas for the Currie Cup.[3][4]

In 2016 he joined English side Saracens.[5] During his time at Saracens he has won two Premiership titles in 2018 and 2019.[6][7] He also helped Saracens win the European Champions Cup in 2017 and 2019.[8][9]

On 9 December 2021, Koch announced he would leave Saracens after five seasons at the club to join Premiership rivals Wasps on a long term deal ahead of the 2022-23 season.[10]

Wasps entered administration on 17 October 2022 and Koch was made redundant along with all other players and coaching staff.[11]

On 27 October 2022 it was confirmed that Koch had signed for French Top 14 side Stade Français.[12]

Koch joined the Sharks ahead of the 2023–24 United Rugby Championship, but did not make his debut until 23 March 2024, due to a knee injury sustained during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[13]

Koch was named as Man of the Match for the 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup final, as the Sharks defeated Gloucester to claim the title.[14]

International career

In 2013, he was included in a South Africa President's XV team that played in the 2013 IRB Tbilisi Cup[15] and won the tournament after winning all three matches.[16]

In 2016, Koch was included in a South Africa 'A' squad that played a two-match series against a touring England Saxons team.[17] He was named in the starting line-up for their first match in Bloemfontein,[18] but ended on the losing side as the visitors ran out 32–24 winners.[19]

Koch was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[20] South Africa won the tournament, defeating England in the final.[21]

References

  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Vincent Koch". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Vincent Koch". Saracen F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  3. ^ "WP take another Bull to the Cape". SuperSport. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Leeus nooi nie Puma-sterre" (in Afrikaans). SupaRugby. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  5. ^ "Saracens sign Vincent Koch and Sean Maitland". BBC. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 10-27 Saracens". BBC. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 34-37 Saracens". BBC. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  8. ^ "European Champions Cup: Saracens beat Clermont 28-17 to retain European title". BBC. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Leinster 10-20 Saracens: English side win third Champions Cup in Newcastle". BBC. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Vincent Koch: Wasps sign Saracens & South Africa prop for start of next season". BBC Sport. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  11. ^ Bridge, Bobby (17 October 2022). "Wasps' administration confirmed as 167 employees made redundant". CoventryLive. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Koch and Odogwu become the latest Wasps players to get a new club". amp.rugbypass.com. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Sharks debut for Koch". SA Rugby magazine. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Sharks scrum beast on 'special' win". SA Rugby magazine. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  15. ^ "SA President's XV selected for IRB Tblisi Cup". South African Rugby Union. 17 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  16. ^ "SA President's XV win Tbilisi Cup". IRB. 16 June 2013. Archived from the original on 19 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  17. ^ "Ackermann to coach SA 'A' against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 28 May 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  18. ^ "Youth and experience for SA 'A' opener against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  19. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa "A" 24–32 England Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  20. ^ "South Africa World Cup squad: Siya Kolisi wins fitness battle, Eben Etzebeth backed, Aphiwe Dyantyi dropped". Independent. 26 August 2019. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  21. ^ "England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.