Neethling Fouché

Johann Neethling Fouché (born 10 January 1993) is a South African rugby union player for the in the United Rugby Championship and in the Currie Cup. His regular position is tighthead prop.

Career

Youth

Fouché first earned his first provincial representation at primary school level, being called up by Rustenburg-based side the for the 2006 Under-13 Craven Week competition. In 2009, he once again represented the Leopards, this time for their Under-16 Grant Khomo Week side.

In 2010, however, he moved to Bloemfontein to complete his schooling at Grey College in Bloemfontein. His provincial selection continued at his new school and he represented the Free State in the Under-18 Craven Week tournaments in both 2010 and 2011. In 2010, he was included in a South African Under-18 High Performance squad that played matches against France, England and Namibia.

Fouché also made one appearance for the side while still at school, coming on as a replacement in their match against the in the 2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship.

Blue Bulls

After two years in Bloemfontein, Fouché was on the move again – this time, he moved to Pretoria to join the . He appeared in seven of the side's matches during the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship and represented the s on three occasions during the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship, playing as a loosehead prop instead of his regular tighthead side.

In 2014, he was included in the side that played in the 2014 Varsity Cup competition, where he made a single appearance for the Pretoria-based university side against eventual champions . He made his first class debut two weeks later on 8 March 2014, playing off the bench in the ' 2014 Vodacom Cup First Round match against , with his side suffering a 24–26 loss. That was his only appearance in the competition and he reverted to the Under-21s for the 2014 Under-21 Provincial Championship, where he played seven times and scored three tries – two in their match against in a 143–0 demolition and another in their match against the . Fouché also started the final of the competition, helping the Blue Bulls to a 20–10 victory over in Cape Town.

Fouché returned to action for in the 2015 Varsity Cup, starting in their 29–29 draw against , before being named as a potential injury replacement for Dayan van der Westhuizen for the in their opening round of the 2015 Super Rugby season against the .