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Manie Libbok
South African rugby union player (born 15 July 1997) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Immanuel "Manie" Libbok (born 15 July 1997) is a South African professional rugby union player. His current club is the Japanese-based Hanazono Kintetsu Liners. He previously played for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship and Western Province in the Currie Cup. Internationally, he represents South Africa. [2]
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Rugby career
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2013–2015: Schoolboy rugby
Libbok was born in Humansdorp. He attended HTS Daniël Pienaar in Uitenhage, and earned his first provincial selection in 2013, representing Eastern Province at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week, scoring tries in matches against the Blue Bulls[3] and the Golden Lions.[4]
Libbok moved to George for 2014, where he attended Hoërskool Outeniqua. He represented the George-based SWD Eagles at the premier South African high schools rugby union tournament, the Under-18 Craven Week, in both 2014 and 2015. In the first match at the 2015 tournament held in Stellenbosch, Libbok scored two tries, four conversions and one penalty for a personal points haul of 21 points in his side's 31–41 defeat to former side Eastern Province.[5] He followed this up with a try and four conversions against the Golden Lions[6] and a third try and two conversions against KwaZulu-Natal in their final match.[7] He scored a total of 43 points in three matches, making him the top scorer at the competition,[8] while his four tries were the joint-second most in the competition, one behind Western Province's Nico Leonard.[9]
At the conclusion of the tournament, Libbok was included in a South Africa Schools team that played in the 2015 Under-18 International Series on home soil against their counterparts from Wales, France and England. He started on the left wing in their 42–11 victory over Wales in their first match,[10] but dropped to the bench for match against France, not getting any game time in their 12–5 victory.[11] He returned to the starting line-up for their final match against England, helping them to a 23–16 victory to finish the series with a 100% record.[12]
2016–2017: Blue Bulls / South Africa Under-20
After high school, Libbok moved to Pretoria to join the Blue Bulls academy. In March 2016, he was included in a South Africa Under-20 training squad,[13] and made the cut to be named in a reduced provisional squad a week later.[14]
Libbok was also named in the Blue Bulls squad for the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series and he made his first class debut on 8 April 2016, starting as a fullback in their 16–30 defeat to Western Province in Round One of the competition.[15] He also started their match against a Free State XV a week later, scoring his first senior points by slotting a penalty in the 15th minute of the match, and scoring his first try in the final ten minutes which proved decisive as the Blue Bulls won the match 20–17.[16] He also started their next match against Gauteng rivals the Golden Lions[17] and played off the bench in their defeat to the Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth.[18]
On 10 May 2016, Libbok was included in the final South Africa Under-20 squad for the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship tournament to be held in Manchester in England.[19] He started their opening match in Pool C of the tournament in the fly-half position, scoring a try as South Africa came from behind to beat Japan 59–19.[20] He switched positions with fullback Curwin Bosch for their second pool match, a 13–19 defeat to Argentina,[21] but reverted to fly-half as South Africa bounced back to secure a 40-31 bonus-point victory over France in their final pool match, with Libbok scoring his second try of the competition just after the hour mark.[22] The result meant South Africa secured a semi-final place as the best runner-up in the competition, and Libbok started their semi-final match as they faced three-time champions England. The hosts proved too strong for South Africa, knocking them out of the competition with a 39–17 victory,[23] and they also lost the third-place play-off match against Argentina, with the South American side beating South Africa for the second time in the tournament, convincingly winning 49–19[24] to condemn South Africa to fourth place in the competition. Libbok scored his third try of the competition in the defeat, to finish the competition with three tries, the joint-most by a South African player with Zain Davids and Edwill van der Merwe.[25]
Libbok returned to domestic action for the Blue Bulls U19 team in the 2016 Under-19 Provincial Championship. He made seven starts in the competition, scoring three tries during the season – one against Leopards U19[26] and two against Eastern Province U19[27] – as well as 35 points with the boot through 16 conversions and one penalty. He finished the competition as the Blue Bulls' second-highest points scorer,[28] and helped them to second place on the log[29] to secure a semi-final spot, at which stage they lost to Golden Lions U19.[30] He also made a single start for the Blue Bulls U21 team in the 2016 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring a try in a 52–38 victory over Leopards U21.[31]
In November 2016, he was named in the Bulls Super Rugby team's extended training squad during the team's preparations for the 2017 Super Rugby season.[32]
2020–2021: Sharks
2021–2025: Stormers
Libbok debuted for the Stormers in 2021, in Italy facing Benetton in a losing effort after the home side made a second half comeback. He went on to feature prominently for the Cape outfit after impressing coach, John Dobson. The Stormers, only lost 4 games leading into the knockout stages for that season. During a semi-final clash against Irish side, Ulster, where the visitors were leading by 5 points after the hooter already sounded. Libbok made a skip pass assisting Warrick Gelant to score a try leveling the scoreboard. Libbok made the conversion from the touchline sending his team into the finals of the inaugural United Rugby Championship. In the final, he faced his former club the Bulls, and kicked a drop goal to extend a small lead and ultimately clinching the title. He was the leading point scorer, accumulating 171 points. A feat he replicated the following season, scoring 217 points.[citation needed]
2025-: Hanazono kintetsu liners
On July 22nd, Libbok's signing was officially announced by the Japanese outfit after reports had been making rounds since March. Initial reports hinted at a Sabbatical request, but it turned out to be a long-term endeavor after Libbok announced his departure from the Stormers. He was signed with the Cape outfit until 2027 and according to coach, John Dobson, wanted to honour his contract. Dobson, whom had been very vocal about having both Libbok and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, said that it was impossible for both of them to coexist at the franchise. He also mentioned the latter's request one year prior to only play fly-half and mentioned that he doesn't desire to play from the bench. Therefore, Libbok's offer couldn't have come at a more opportune time. Dobson, declared that Manie leaves with their blessing and an open invitation to return in the future.
National team
In October 2022, he was included in the squad for the Springboks' year-end tour.[33] He made his debut for the national team against France on November 12th, receiving 4 minutes from the bench in Marseille. A fixture they lost. The following week he was once again named in the team to face Italy. He replaced Cheslin Kolbe early in the second half due to injury. He kicked 5 successful conversions in a 63-21 victory. He played his third test against England, also from the bench which they also won.
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Honours
South Africa
- 2025 Rugby Championship winner
- 2024 Rugby Championship winner
- 2021-2022 United Rugby Championship winner
Statistics
Test match record
- As of 4 October 2025
International tries
- As of 27 September 2025
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
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