Ox Nché
{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use South African English|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| image = Ox Nché 2015.jpg
| caption = Nché playing in 2015
| fullname = Retshegofaditswe Nché
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|07|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa{{cite web |title=Retshegofaditswe Nche |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/southafrica/rugby/player/265405.html |website=ESPN scrum |publisher=ESPN}}{{cite web |last1=Kinuthia |first1=Peter |title=Ox Nche: age, D.O.B, height, weight, family, ESPN, injury, stats |url=https://briefly.co.za/106964-ox-nche-age-dob-height-weight-family-espn-injury-stats.html |website=Briefly.co.za |publisher=Briefly News |access-date=25 October 2023 |language=en |date=16 August 2021}}
| height = {{height|m=1.76}}
| weight = {{convert|122|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = HTS Louis Botha
| university = University of the Free State
| relatives = Lezii
| position = Prop
| currentclub = {{Rut|Sharks}} / {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}}
| youthyears1 = 2011–2016
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}}
| years1 = 2016–2019
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Cheetahs}}
| apps1 = 67
| points1 = 40
| years2 = 2016–2018
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Free State XV}}
| apps2 = 5
| points2 = 5
| years3 = 2016–2019
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}}
| apps3 = 27
| points3 = 20
| years4 = 2020–
| clubs4 = {{Rut|Sharks}}
| apps4 = 63
| points4 = 35
| years5 = 2020–
| clubs5 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}}
| apps5 = 7
| points5 = 0
| amatyears1 = 2015–2016
| amatteam1 = {{Rut|UFS Shimlas}}
| amatapps1 = 10
| amatpoints1 = 0
| repyears1 = 2012–2013
| repteam1 = South Africa Schools
| repcaps1 = 3
| reppoints1 = 0
| repyears2 = 2015
| repteam2 = South Africa Under-20
| repcaps2 = 5
| reppoints2 = 5
| repyears3 = 2017
| repteam3 = South Africa 'A'
| repcaps3 = 2
| reppoints3 = 5
| repyears4 = 2018–
| repteam4 = {{nrut|South Africa}}
| repcaps4 = 37
| reppoints4 = 0
| clubupdate = 27 October 2024
| repupdate = 27 October 2024
| medals =
{{MedalSport|Men's rugby union}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ru|RSA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Rugby World Cup}}
{{MedalGold|2023 France|Squad}}
}}
Retshegofaditswe 'Tshego' Nché – more commonly referred to as Ox Nché – (born 23 July 1995) is a South African rugby union player for the {{Rut|Sharks}} in the United Rugby Championship and the South African national team (the Springboks). His regular position is prop. He is an internationally acclaimed scrummager.{{cn|date=November 2024}}
Club rugby
=Youth (2011–14)=
Nché first earned provincial selection in 2011, when he was included in the Free State squad that participated at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in Queenstown.
In 2012, Nché represented Free State at the premier high school rugby union competition in South Africa – the Under-18 Craven Week competition – held in Port Elizabeth, starting all three of Free State's matches, despite still being in the Under-17 age-group. After the tournament, he was selected in a South African Schools squad that played against France,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=113231 | homeid=14841 | awayid=14871 | leagueid=1441 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=17 | awayscore=7 | awayteam=France | matchdate=10 August 2012 | date=11 November 2016}} Wales{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=113251 | homeid=14841 | awayid=14861 | leagueid=1441 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=24 | awayscore=16 | awayteam=Wales | matchdate=14 August 2012 | date=11 November 2016}} and England.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=113271 | homeid=14841 | awayid=14851 | leagueid=1441 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=36 | awayscore=29 | awayteam=England | matchdate=18 August 2012 | date=11 November 2016}} He was an unused substitute in the first two matches, but started the match against England.
Nché once again played in all three of Free State's matches at the 2013 Under-18 Craven Week competition held in Polokwane, scoring a try in their opening match against Eastern Province.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=108374 | homeid=14064 | awayid=14074 | leagueid=1394 | hometeam=Eastern Province | homescore=21 | awayscore=32 | awayteam=Free State | matchdate=9 July 2013 | date=11 November 2016}} He was once again included in the South African Schools side in 2013, this time starting two matches against England{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112684 | homeid=15684 | awayid=15704 | leagueid=1524 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=19 | awayscore=14 | awayteam=England | matchdate=9 August 2013 | date=11 November 2016}} and Wales.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112704 | homeid=15684 | awayid=15714 | leagueid=1524 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=14 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=Wales | matchdate=17 August 2013 | date=11 November 2016}} He also made three appearances for the {{Rut|Free State U19}}s during the 2013 Under-19 Provincial Championship.
Nché was a key player for the {{Rut|Free State U19}} team in the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship, starting all thirteen of their matches in the competition as his side finished second on the log before losing 22–29 to eventual champions {{Rut|Western Province U19}} in the semi-finals.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=127294 | homeid=21134 | awayid=21124 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=Free State U19 | homescore=22 | awayscore=29 | awayteam=Western Province U19 | matchdate=18 October 2014 | date=11 November 2016}} Nché scored three tries during the round-robin stage of the competition, scoring in their matches against Western Province U19,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=126444 | homeid=21124 | awayid=21134 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=WP U19 | homescore=50 | awayscore=26 | awayteam=Free State U19 | matchdate=12 July 2014 | date=11 November 2016}} {{Rut|Eastern Province U19}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=127074 | homeid=21114 | awayid=21134 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=EP Kings U19 | homescore=17 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=Free State U19 | matchdate=22 August 2014 | date=11 November 2016}} and {{Rut|Golden Lions U19}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=127094 | homeid=21134 | awayid=21164 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=Free State U19 | homescore=34 | awayscore=0 | awayteam=Golden Lions U19 | matchdate=30 August 2014 | date=11 November 2016}}
=Varsity Cup =
In 2015, Nché was named in the {{Rut|UFS Shimlas}} squad for the 2015 Varsity Cup competition. He started the competition as a reserve, playing off the bench on five occasions before being named in the starting line-up for the first time in their final regular season match against {{Rut|NWU Pukke}}. He retained his starting spot for their 21–10 victory over defending champions {{Rut|UCT Ikey Tigers}} in the semi-final{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=137794 | homeid=23574 | awayid=23554 | leagueid=2194 | hometeam=FNB UFS SHIMLAS | homescore=21 | awayscore=10 | awayteam=FNB UCT | matchdate=30 March 2015 | date=11 November 2016}} and also started the final, helping UFS Shimlas to a 63–33 victory against NWU Pukke to win the competition for the first time in their history.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=137814 | homeid=23574 | awayid=23534 | leagueid=2194 | hometeam=FNB UFS SHIMLAS | homescore=63 | awayscore=33 | awayteam=FNB NWU-PUKKE | matchdate=13 April 2015 | date=11 November 2016}}
International
Nché was named in a 37-man South Africa Under-20 training squad{{SA Rugby Article | id=2925424 | leagueid=2484 | title=SARU names large group for Junior Bok trials | date=25 March 2015 | access-date=6 December 2016 | url-status=live | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2925424&leagueid=2484 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206134230/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2925424&leagueid=2484 | archive-date=6 December 2016}} and played for them in a 31–24 victory in a friendly match against a Varsity Cup Dream Team that was named at the conclusion of the 2015 Varsity Cup competition.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=142484 | homeid=25434 | awayid=25444 | leagueid=2384 | hometeam=Varsity Cup XV | homescore=24 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=South Africa U/20 | matchdate=21 April 2015 | date=11 November 2016}} He was then named in their squad to tour Argentina for a two-match series as preparation for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.{{cite web | url=http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22316?view=news | title=SARU names Junior Bok squad for Argentine tour | work=South African Rugby Union | date=29 April 2015 | access-date=29 April 2015}} He started their 25–22 victory over Argentina in the first match,{{cite web | url=http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3942 | title=Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 25 a 22 | work=Unión Argentina de Rugby | date=12 May 2015 | access-date=21 May 2015 | language=es | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522172958/http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3942 | archive-date=22 May 2015 | df=dmy-all }} but did not feature in their 39–28 win in the second match four days later.{{cite web | url=http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3958 | title=Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 39 a 28 | work=Unión Argentina de Rugby | date=16 May 2015 | access-date=21 May 2015 | language=es | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522173733/http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3958 | archive-date=22 May 2015 | df=dmy-all }}
Upon the team's return, Nché was named in the final squad for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.{{cite web | url=http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22792?view=news | title=Liebenberg to lead Junior Boks at U20 World Championship in Italy | publisher=South African Rugby Union | date=20 May 2015 | access-date=20 May 2015}} He started all three of their matches in Pool B of the competition; a 33–5 win against hosts Italy,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144364 | homeid=26544 | awayid=26534 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=Italy U20 | homescore=5 | awayscore=33 | awayteam=South Africa U20 | matchdate=2 June 2015 | date=11 November 2016}} a 40–8 win against Samoa{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144394 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26524 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=40 | awayscore=8 | awayteam=Samoa U20 | matchdate=6 June 2015 | date=11 November 2016}} and a 46–13 win over Australia.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144404 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26514 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=46 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=Australia U20 | matchdate=10 June 2015 | date=11 November 2016}} Nché scored one of six tries in their match against Australia to help South Africa finish top of Pool B to qualify for the semi-finals with the best record pool stage of all the teams in the competition. Nché started their semi-final match against England, but could not prevent them losing 20–28 to be eliminated from the competition by England for the second year in succession.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=146274 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26494 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=20 | awayscore=28 | awayteam=England U20 | matchdate=15 June 2015 | date=11 November 2016}} He started their third-place play-off match against France, helping South Africa to a 31–18 win to win the bronze medal.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=146324 | homeid=26474 | awayid=26534 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=France U20 | homescore=18 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=South Africa U20 | matchdate=20 June 2015 | date=11 November 2016}}
Honours
- 2023 - “{{lang|tn|Tlotlo ya Morafe wa Barolong boo-Seleka}}” (Honour of the Barolong Tribe in Nation) by Kgosi Gaboilelwe Moroka in Barolong, Thaba 'Nchu.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-15 |title=Ox Nche receives a heroic honour in his home town. |url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/ox-nche-granted-a-heroic-honour-in-his-home-town/ |access-date=2023-11-17 |language=en-US|website=SABC News}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-15 |title=Touching ceremony uniquely honours home town hero 'Ox' Nché |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/touching-ceremony-as-home-town-uniquely-honours-hero-ox-nche/ |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=www.rugbypass.com |language=en}}
- 2023 Rugby world cup winner.
- 2024 EPCR Challenge Cup Winner.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [https://www.sarugby.co.za/match-centre/player-detail/?playerId=2d18c19d-9cdf-455c-85ea-eb963aaabc48&teamId=e976cfc2-f80b-4c1a-8472-838cd54f0fbc Ox Nché] at Springboks
- {{Sports links}}
{{Sharks squad}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Squads
|list1 =
{{South Africa 2023 Rugby World Cup squad}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nche, Ox}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from Bloemfontein
Category:Free State Cheetahs players
Category:South Africa Under-20 international rugby union players
Category:South Africa international rugby union players
Category:Cheetahs (rugby union) players
Category:Sharks (rugby union) players
Category:Sharks (Currie Cup) players