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| Born | (1982-10-28)28 October 1982 (age 43) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 89 kg (14 st 0 lb; 196 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative | Errie Claassens | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Michael Claassens (born 28 October 1982 inKroonstad,Free State) is a formerSouth Africanrugby union player that played professional rugby between 2003 and 2018. He made in excess of 350 senior appearances, including eight test matches for theSouth Africa national team.
He made his first class debut in 2003 for theFree State Cheetahs, making 64 appearances for theBloemfontein-based side between 2003 and 2006. He also playedSuper Rugby for theCats in 2005 and theCheetahs in 2006 and 2007. He joinedBath in thePremiership in England for the 2007–08 season, where he stayed for six seasons. He then had two seasons atToulon in theTop 14 before returning to South Africa to finish his career at theDurban-basedSharks.[2]
He is the brother ofErrie Claassens, also a professional rugby union player.