Kees Lensing

Gideon "Kees" Lensing (born 1 June 1978 in Keetmanshoop, Namibia) is a former Namibian rugby union player and current head coach of the Seattle Seawolves of Major League Rugby. He played as a prop for six different teams over more than 11 years. Lensing played for the Namibia national rugby union team in the 2003 Rugby World Cup and the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He was Captain of the Namibia National Team from 2006 to 2009, and ultimately played 24 matches[1] for Namibia (including leading the team at the 2007 World Cup).[2]

Kees Lensing
Birth nameGideon "Kees" Lensing
Date of birth (1978-06-01) 1 June 1978
Place of birthKeetmanshoop, Namibia
Height1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight125 kg (276 lb; 19.7 st)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)

2001–10		 Castres
Leeds Carnegie
Sharks
Bulls
Mighty Elephants
Griffons		 ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2002–09 Namibia 24 5
Teams coached
Years Team
2018-19
2020-		 Rugby United New York (Forwards)
Seattle Seawolves (head)
Correct as of May 09, 2019

Following a back injury, Lensing retired from his career as a player and transitioned into coaching in 2011.[3] After three years as the specialist scrum/forwards and defense coach of the Canon Eagles in Japan's Top League,[4] Lensing relocated to New York City and signed as forwards coach of Rugby United New York for the Major League Rugby 2019 season.[5]

Professional rugby career

South Africa

Lensing played for six teams during his professional rugby career. He made his professional debut at age 21 with South Africa's Northern Free State Griffons, playing 49 matches from 1999 to 2001.

In 2001, Lensing was selected for the South African National Rugby Union Team, the Springboks, U/23 Group, but had to withdraw due to a knee injury.

From 2002 to 2003, Lensing played with the Mighty Elephants (South Africa). He also made his debut for the Namibian National Side during this time (2002), and at age 25 he represented Namibia at the 2003 Rugby World Cup as first choice loose head prop.

From 2004 to 2005, he signed with the Blue Bulls Rugby Union Team (South Africa). Lensing played 47 matches in two seasons with the Bulls and in 2004 helped bring the team to a first place win at the Currie Cup and second place at the Vodacom Cup. He played for the Blue Bulls in the 2005 Super 12 international rugby competition, and was selected as Man of the match (MVP) in the game against the Australian Queensland Rugby Union (the Reds) at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. During this time, he was named in the Super Rugby "Super XV" two weeks in a row.[6] In total, Lensing had 10 Test match appearances for the Bulls. While playing for the Bulls, he also gained experience conducting numerous training sessions and clinics at schools.

Europe

In 2006, Lensing signed a three-year contract to play for Yorkshire Carnegie in Leeds, England (formerly Leeds Carnegie/LeedsTykes).[7][8] The move was seen as a loss to the Bulls.[9] However, at the end of his first season with Leeds, Lensing exercised the opt-out release clause in his contract and was aggressively recruited by the Sharks.[10] He returned to South Africa to play for the Sharks in the Super 14 in 2006, generating controversy surrounding a reportedly high salary that was allegedly leaked to the media by a competing agent.[11] Brian Smith, then-director of the London Irish, publicly criticized[12] Lensing for the move, claiming that he had agreed to play for the Exiles. Lensing played for the Sharks from 2006 to 2008.

In 2007, at age 29, Lensing represented Namibia for the second time at the Rugby World Cup, this time as Team Captain.[13] Although he was living in South Africa at the time, Lensing was barred from playing for South Africa under World Rugby Regulations[14] because he had already represented Namibia in the 2003 World Cup.

In 2008, Lensing signed with Castres Olympique (France) in the Top 14 French rugby union league. He continued to play for the Namibian national team until 2009. In 2010, after helping Namibia qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Lensing announced his retirement at the age of 32.

In 2014, Lensing played for the Classic Springboks (South Africa), at the World Rugby Classic in Bermuda.[15]

Coaching career

South Africa

In 2011, Lensing completed his Level 1 and Level 2 World Rugby (International Rugby Board) coaching certification and began coaching both players and other coaches. He first worked as a Forward Coach with the South African Correctional Services team in 2011.

In 2012, Lensing became a forwards coach with the Blue Bulls Tuks Rugby Academy at the University of Pretoria.[16] Within the year he transitioned to head coach, and in November 2012 he became a scrum and forwards coach of the Tuks team.

In 2013, Lensing was named Forward Coach of the Limpopo Blue Bulls, U/21.

In 2014, he was selected as Forward Coach at the Investec International Rugby Academy in South Africa.[17]

Overseas

In 2015, Lensing was recruited as Specialist Scrum/Forward and Defense Coach of the Canon Eagles in Japan's Top League in Tokyo, Japan.[18] In 2015, the Eagles placed 6th out of 16 teams in the Top League.[19]

In 2018, Rugby United New York announced via its website and social media accounts that it had signed Lensing as the forwards coach for the New York City side's first season in Major League Rugby.[20] Additionally, Lensing continues to do education and training seminars for World Rugby, USA Rugby, the Blue Bulls Tuks Rugby Academy, and the Kees Lensing Front Row Academy at the International Rugby Institute in Pretoria, South Africa.

Successive clubs

References
  1. "Kees Lensing | Rugby Union | Players and Officials | ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  2. Sport, PA. "Lensing tips players to make pro grade". Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  3. OFM. "Lensing leaves". OFM. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  4. "canon-eagles – japonrugby". japonrugby.net. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  5. "Rugby United New York Signs Kees Lensing as Forwards Coach - djcoilrugby". djcoilrugby. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  6. "Scrumming machine Kees is no ape". SuperSport official website. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  7. "Leeds win chase to land Lensing". BBC. 10 June 2005. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  8. "Lensing to leave the Bulls | IOL". Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  9. "Sharks sign Kees Lensing – Super Rugby | Super 18 Rugby and Rugby Championship News,Results and Fixtures from Super XV Rugby". Super Rugby | Super 18 Rugby and Rugby Championship News,Results and Fixtures from Super XV Rugby. 3 May 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  10. "Sharks sign Kees Lensing". ESPN. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  11. "Hugh Godwin: A new elite: Vickery and the props of big wages". The Independent. 30 September 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  12. "Smith attacks Lensing over move". BBC. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  13. "2007 Rugby World Cup squads". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  14. worldrugby.org. "Rugby World Cup". worldrugby.org. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  15. User, Super. "World Rugby Classic Bermuda – The 2014 World Rugby Classic". worldrugby.bm. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  16. Website, University of Pretoria Archived (26 March 2012). "University of Pretoria Archived Website". archivedpublicwebsite.up.ac.za. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  17. "South African Rugby Academy | Rugby Academy | Rugby Player Courses | Rugby Coaching Courses". Investec Rugby Academy. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  18. "Lensing to Japan". SuperSport official website. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  19. "TOP LEAGUE OFFICIAL SITE – ジャパンラグビートップリーグ公式サイト". TOP LEAGUE OFFICIAL SITE – ジャパンラグビートップリーグ公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  20. "Rugby United New York Signs Forwards Coach Kees Lensing". rugbyunitedny.com. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
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