Naka Drotské

Allen Erasmus Drotské (born 15 March 1971), commonly known as Naka Drotské, is a South African former rugby union player, who played as a hooker. He played for the South Africa national team, the Springboks, 26 times between 1993 and 1999.^[1]

Naka Drotské

Full name	Allen Erasmus Drotské
Date of birth	(1971-03-15) 15 March 1971 (age 54)
Place of birth	Senekal, Free State, South Africa
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Weight	108 kg (17 st 0 lb; 238 lb)
School	Grey College, Bloemfontein
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker Youth career 1989 SA Schools Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2001–2003 London Irish 58 (10) Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1992–99 Free State 97 (135) 2000 Blue Bulls 10 (5) 2001 Pumas 1 (0) 2004–05 Cheetahs 30 (5) Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 1998–99, 05 Cats 23 (20) 2000–01 Bulls 16 (0) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1993–99 South Africa 26 (15) Coaching career Years Team 2007–13 Free State Cheetahs 2007–15 Cheetahs

Playing career

Provincial

Drotské played as a flank for the Free State Schools team at the 1989 Craven Week tournament and gained selection for the South African Schools team. In 1992 he made his provincial debut for Free State, also playing as a flank and during the 1993 he converted to the playing position of hooker. Drotské moved to the Blue Bulls for the 2000 provincial season and also played the Bulls in the Super Rugby competition.^[2]

In 2001 Drotské signed with London Irish to play for the club until 2003 and the following year he started in the 2002 Powergen Cup Final at Twickenham, as London Irish defeated the Northampton Saints.^[3]

International

Drotské played his first test match for the Springboks on 13 November 1993 against Argentina in Buenos Aires, a game the 'Boks won 52–23. He was a member of the 1995 Rugby World Cup winning squad, playing in one match and was also a member of the 1999 Rugby World Cup squad. During the 1999 World Cup, he played in six matches for the Springboks.^[2]

Test history

No.	Opposition	Result (SA 1st)	Position	Tries	Date	Venue
1.	Argentina	52–23	Hooker		13 Nov 1993	Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires
2.	Samoa	42–14	Replacement		10 Jun 1995	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
3.	Australia	16–21	Replacement		13 Jul 1996	Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
4.	Tonga	74–10	Hooker	1	10 Jun 1997	Newlands, Cape Town
5.	British Lions	16–25	Hooker		21 Jun 1997	Newlands, Cape Town
6.	British Lions	15–18	Hooker		28 Jun 1997	Kings Park, Durban
7.	British Lions	35–16	Replacement		5 Jul 1997	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
8.	New Zealand	32–35	Hooker	1	19 Jul 1997	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
9.	Australia	20–32	Hooker		2 Aug 1997	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
10.	New Zealand	35–55	Replacement		9 Aug 1997	Eden Park, Auckland
11.	Ireland	33–0	Replacement		20 Jun 1998	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
12.	Wales	96–13	Replacement		27 Jun 1998	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
13.	Ireland	27–13	Replacement		28 Nov 1998	Lansdowne Road, Dublin
14.	Italy	74–3	Hooker		12 Jun 1999	Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth
15.	Italy	101–0	Hooker	1	19 June 1999	Kings Park, Durban
16.	Wales	19–29	Hooker		26 June 1999	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
17.	New Zealand	0–28	Hooker		10 July 1999	Carisbrook, Dunedin
18.	Australia	6–32	Hooker		17 July 1999	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
19.	New Zealand	18–34	Hooker		7 Aug 1999	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
20.	Australia	10–9	Hooker		14 Aug 1999	Newlands, Cape Town
21.	Scotland	46–29	Hooker		3 Oct 1999	Murrayfield, Edinburgh
22.	Spain	47–3	Replacement		10 Oct 1999	Murrayfield, Edinburgh
23.	Uruguay	39–3	Hooker		15 Oct 1999	Hampden Park, Glasgow
24.	England	44–21	Hooker		24 Oct 1999	Stade de France, Paris
25.	Australia	21–27	Hooker		30 Oct 1999	Twickenham, London
26.	New Zealand	22–18	Hooker		4 Nov 1999	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Coaching career

After retiring from playing, Drostké coached the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup and the Cheetahs in Super Rugby between 2007 and 2015. He announced his retirement from coaching on 8 May 2015 to pursue other business interests.^[4]

Personal life

In November 2018, Drostké was shot during a robbery in Pretoria, and was left in a critical condition.^[5]

See also

• List of South Africa national rugby union players – Springbok no. 601