Harlon Klaasen

Harlon Jason Klaasen (born (1993-08-13)13 August 1993) is a South African rugby union player who last played for the Southern Kings in the Pro14.[1] He is a utility back that can play as a centre, wing or fullback.

Harlon Klaasen
Full nameHarlon Jason Klaasen
Date of birth (1993-08-13) 13 August 1993
Place of birthMalmesbury, South Africa
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight83 kg (183 lb; 13 st 1 lb)
SchoolLabori High School, Paarl
UniversityNorthlink College, Bellville
Rugby union career
Position(s) Utility back
Youth career
2012–2014 Boland Cavaliers
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2015 Boland Cavaliers 10 (20)
2017 Western Province 5 (0)
2017 Eastern Province Kings 2 (20)
2017–2019 Southern Kings 26 (45)
Correct as of 4 May 2019

Boland Cavaliers

Klaasen was born in Malmesbury. and represented local provincial side Boland Cavaliers at youth level, starting at Under-19 level in the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship. He made his first class debut in the 2014 Vodacom Cup, starting as fullback in their penultimate match against the Eastern Province Kings, further marking the occasion by scoring a try in a 21–28 defeat.[2] He also scored a try in his only appearance in the 2014 Currie Cup qualification series, in a 37–12 victory over the Border Bulldogs,[3] before reverting to Under-21 level in the 2014 Under-21 Provincial Championship, where he finished as the competition's top try scorer, with 15 tries in just eight matches,[4] scoring four tries in two different matches, against Griquas U21[5] and Limpopo Blue Bulls U21.[6]

He scored two tries in seven appearances for Boland in the 2015 Vodacom Cup, but didn't feature in the Currie Cup competition.

Hamiltons and Western Province

Klaasen then played amateur club rugby for Hamiltons in Western Province's Super League A competition, where he finished as the 2016 competition's top scorer with 14 tries,[7] earning a contract with Western Province for their 2017 Rugby Challenge squad. He made five appearances, four of them off the bench, for the team that went on to win the competition, beating Griquas in the final.[8]

Eastern Province Kings and Southern Kings

In late 2017, Klaasen moved to Port Elizabeth to join the Eastern Province Kings for their 2017 Currie Cup First Division campaign. He made just two starts — a 39–71 defeat to the Griffons in Welkom[9] and a 22–66 defeat to the SWD Eagles in George[10] — but scored two tries in each of those matches to finish as the Kings second-highest try scorer.

He was called into the Southern Kings squad for their 2017–18 Pro14 campaign and was named on the bench for their match against Welsh side Scarlets,[11] coming off the bench to score a try and secure a losing bonus point for the Southern Kings in the 30–34 defeat.[12] He made his first start a week later, scoring another try in a defeat to Scottish side Edinburgh.[13] He made a total of nine appearances throughout the season, scoring further tries against Ulster[14] and the Cheetahs[15] to finish with a haul of five tries for the Kings, only bettered by winger Yaw Penxe.

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References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Harlon Klaasen". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 28-21 Regent Boland Cavaliers". South African Rugby Union. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Border 12-37 Boland". South African Rugby Union. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  4. "SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2014 Absa Under 21 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Boland U21 48-17 Griquas U21". South African Rugby Union. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Boland U21 38-36 Limpopo BB U21". South African Rugby Union. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  7. "Klaasen shows his class in local derby win!" (Press release). Hamilton SP RFC. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  8. "SuperSport Rugby Challenge - Match 67, Final". South African Rugby Union. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  9. "Currie Cup First Division - Match 18, Log". South African Rugby Union. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  10. "Currie Cup First Division - Match 26, Log". South African Rugby Union. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  11. "Southern Kings team to face Scarlets". Pro14 Rugby. 24 November 2017. Archived from the original on 26 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  12. "Scarlets haul themselves past plucky Kings". Guinness Pro14. 26 November 2017. Archived from the original on 26 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  13. "Hidalgo-Clyne stars in Edinburgh win". Guinness Pro14. 1 December 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  14. "Gilroy scores hat-trick as Gibbes era gets off to a flyer at Ulster". Guinness Pro14. 9 February 2018. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  15. "Venter try seals bonus point and Final Series place for Cheetahs". Guinness Pro14. 28 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
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