Vincent Koch

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Vincent Koch

| image = Vincent Koch 2022.jpg

| caption = Koch playing in 2022

| fullname = Vincent Philip Koch

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|03|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Empangeni, South Africa

| height = {{height|m=1.85}}

| weight = {{convert|118|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}

| school = Grantham Park Primary School,
Huguenot High School

| university = University of Pretoria

| relatives = Divan Koch

| position = Tighthead Prop

| currentclub = Sharks

| youthyears1 = 2006–2008

| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}

| youthyears2 = 2009–2010

| youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| years1 = 2012

| clubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| apps1 = 3

| points1 = 5

| years2 = 2012–2016

| clubs2 = {{Rut|Pumas}}

| apps2 = 51

| points2 = 40

| years3 = 2015–2016

| clubs3 = {{Rut|Stormers}}

| apps3 = 33

| points3 = 35

| years4 = 2016–2022

| clubs4 = Saracens

| apps4 = 110

| points4 = 50

| years5 = 2022–2023

| clubs5 = Stade Français

| apps5 = 12

| points5 = 0

| years6 = 2023–

| clubs6 = Sharks

| apps6 = 16

| points6 = 10

| amatyears1 = 2011–2012

| amatteam1 = {{Rut|UP Tuks}}

| amatapps1 = 10

| amatpoints1 = 0

| repyears1 = 2015–present

| repteam1 = {{nrut|South Africa}}

| repcaps1 = 61

| reppoints1 = 0

| clubupdate = 25 January 2025

| repupdate = 23 November 2024

| medals = {{MedalSport|Men's Rugby union}}

{{MedalCountry|{{ru|RSA}}}}

}}

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.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=40562 | name=Vincent Koch | date=4 June 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.saracens.com/squads/vincent-koch/|title=Vincent Koch|publisher=Saracen F.C.|access-date=31 January 2020}}

Club career

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

He joined the {{Rut|Stormers}} for the 2015 Super Rugby season, but returned to the Pumas for the Currie Cup.{{cite web | url=http://www.supersport.com/rugby/sa-rugby/news/141030/WP_take_another_Bull_to_the_Cape | title=WP take another Bull to the Cape | publisher=SuperSport | date=30 October 2014 | access-date=30 October 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://www.suparugby.com/pages/Default.asp?More=Leeus%20nooi%20nie%20Puma-sterre%20-%2031%20Oktober%202014&FeatureID=22918&SectionID=39 | title=Leeus nooi nie Puma-sterre | publisher=SupaRugby | date=31 October 2014 | access-date=31 October 2014 | language=af}}

In 2016 he joined English side Saracens.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36459911|title=Saracens sign Vincent Koch and Sean Maitland|publisher=BBC |date=6 June 2016 |access-date=11 October 2020}} During his time at Saracens he has won two Premiership titles in 2018 and 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44212788|title=Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 10-27 Saracens |publisher=BBC |date=26 May 2018 |access-date=11 October 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48438232|title=Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 34-37 Saracens|publisher=BBC |date=1 June 2019 |access-date=11 October 2020}} He also helped Saracens win the European Champions Cup in 2017 and 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39857333|title=European Champions Cup: Saracens beat Clermont 28-17 to retain European title|publisher=BBC |date=13 May 2017 |access-date=11 October 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48239893|title=Leinster 10-20 Saracens: English side win third Champions Cup in Newcastle|publisher=BBC |date=11 May 2019 |access-date=11 October 2020}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59596425|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Vincent Koch: Wasps sign Saracens & South Africa prop for start of next season|date=9 December 2021|accessdate=15 December 2021}}

Wasps entered administration on 17 October 2022 and Koch was made redundant along with all other players and coaching staff.{{Cite web |last=Bridge |first=Bobby |date=2022-10-17 |title=Wasps' administration confirmed as 167 employees made redundant |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/wasps-administration-confirmed-club-statement-25282848 |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=CoventryLive |language=en}}

On 27 October 2022 it was confirmed that Koch had signed for French Top 14 side Stade Français.{{Cite web |title=Koch and Odogwu become the latest Wasps players to get a new club |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/koch-and-odogwu-become-the-latest-wasps-players-to-get-a-new-club/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=amp.rugbypass.com |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-22 |title=Sharks debut for Koch |url=https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/sharks-debut-koch/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=SA Rugby magazine |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-25 |title=Sharks scrum beast on ‘special’ win |url=https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/sharks-scrum-beast-special-win/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=SA Rugby magazine |language=en-US}}

International career

In 2013, he was included in a South Africa President's XV team that played in the 2013 IRB Tbilisi Cup{{SA Rugby Article | id=1931694 | leagueid=1334 | title=SA President’s XV selected for IRB Tblisi Cup | date=17 May 2013 | access-date=6 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=1931694&leagueid=1334 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607191225/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=1931694&leagueid=1334 | url-status=dead | archive-date=7 June 2016}} and won the tournament after winning all three matches.{{cite web | url=http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid=2067589.html | title=SA President's XV win Tbilisi Cup | work=IRB | date=16 June 2013 | access-date=17 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619064230/http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid%3D2067589.html | archive-date=19 June 2013 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}

In July 2015, Koch came off the Bench for the Springboks in an uncapped game against a World XV at Newlands Stadium in a 46-10 Win.

In 2016, Koch was included in a South Africa 'A' squad that played a two-match series against a touring England Saxons team.{{SA Rugby Article | id=3548614 | leagueid=3024 | title=Ackermann to coach SA ‘A’ against Saxons | date=28 May 2016 | access-date=31 May 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3548614&leagueid=3024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531065757/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3548614&leagueid=3024 | url-status=dead | archive-date=31 May 2016}} He was named in the starting line-up for their first match in Bloemfontein,{{SA Rugby Article | id=3563654 | leagueid=3024 | title=Youth and experience for SA ‘A’ opener against Saxons | date=8 June 2016 | access-date=10 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3563654&leagueid=3024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610203333/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3563654&leagueid=3024 | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 June 2016}} but ended on the losing side as the visitors ran out 32–24 winners.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=164774 | homeid=33504 | awayid=33494 | leagueid=3024 | hometeam=South Africa "A" | homescore=24 | awayscore=32 | awayteam=England Saxons | matchdate=10 June 2016 | date=10 June 2016}}

Koch was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/rugby-world-cup-2019-south-africa-squad-full-list-schedule-latest-players-confirmed-a9079626.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220817/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/rugby-world-cup-2019-south-africa-squad-full-list-schedule-latest-players-confirmed-a9079626.html |archive-date=17 August 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=South Africa World Cup squad: Siya Kolisi wins fitness battle, Eben Etzebeth backed, Aphiwe Dyantyi dropped |date=26 August 2019 |publisher=Independent |access-date=3 November 2019}} South Africa won the tournament, defeating England in the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50273291 |title=England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time |date=2 November 2019 |publisher=BBC |access-date=3 November 2019}}

References

External links

[https://www.sarugby.co.za/match-centre/player-detail/?playerId=c572d6b3-a685-45da-9e72-a723f3ea0126&teamId=e976cfc2-f80b-4c1a-8472-838cd54f0fbc Vincent Koch] at Springboks