Louis Koen (rugby union) explained

Louis Koen
Fullname:Louis Johannes Koen
Birth Date:7 July 1975
Birth Place:Cape Town, South Africa
Height:5 ft 9 in
Weight:13 st 6 lb
Position:Fly-half
Repteam1:South Africa
Repyears1:2000–2003
Repcaps1:15
Reppoints1:147
Clubs1:Stormers
Years1:1996–1999
Apps1:12
Points1:86
Years2:1996–1999
Clubs2:Western Province
Apps2:46
Points2:577
Years3:2000–2002
Clubs3:Cats
Apps3:28
Points3:330
Years4:2000–2002
Clubs4:Lions
Apps4:28
Points4:391
Years5:2003
Clubs5:Bulls
Apps5:11
Points5:139
Years6:2003–2005
Clubs6:Narbonne
Apps6:10
Points6:67
Years7:2010
Clubs7:Boland Cavaliers
Apps7:1
Points7:12
School:Paarl Gymnasium
University:Stellenbosch University

Louis Johannes Koen (born 7 July 1975 in Cape Town, South Africa) is a South-African rugby union player who played for the Springboks, until 2003, when he moved abroad following the World Cup.

Effective at either fly half or full back, his career began with Western Province, before his move to the Lions and later the Bulls. He was part of the Western Province team that won the Currie Cup in 1997, contributing immensely with his accurate goal kicking. It was this dependable boot that led to his recall to the Springbok team in 2003 after a two-year absence, but following a difficult tournament[1] and South Africa's disappointing exit in the quarter-finals, Koen was signed by Narbonne in France. After two years dogged by injury, Koen moved back to Western Province as only the second full-time kicking coach in South Africa.[2] In 2010 he was recalled out of retirement to play one Currie Cup First Division match for the Boland Cavaliers against the Valke.

Career

Provincial

Super Rugby

Club

National team

He made his debut for South Africa against Australia on 8 July 2000.

He played four matches in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. During the game between South Africa and Samoa, as Koen prepared to take a conversion, a drunk rugby fan ran onto the field and attempted to tackle Koen, knocking himself out. Koen succeeded with the conversion.[3]

Achievements

With the Springboks

(as of 31 December 2005)

With club and province

Coaching

In February 2022, Koen, then the South African Rugby Union's high-performance manager, was appointed to assist Heyneke Meyer with the Houston SaberCats.[4]

In March 2023, Koen was appointed interim coach of the South Africa women's national rugby union team.[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Baldock . Andrew . 2003-10-30 . Koen pays the price . 2023-09-30 . The Guardian .
  2. Web site: Granger . Dale . 2005-06-17 . Louis Koen comes home - just for kicks . PlanetRugby .
  3. Web site: Fan attempts tackle on player, knocks himself out - Rugbydump . 2023-09-30 . rugbydump.com .
  4. Web site: Taylor . Compiled by Craig . Former Bok 'on loan' to Heyneke Meyer's Houston SaberCats from SA Rugby . 2023-09-30 . News24 .
  5. Web site: Skippers . David . 2023-03-08 . South Africa: Louis Koen appointed as interim Springbok Women's coach . 2023-09-30 . PlanetRugby .