Kees is ex Auckland but now a real Southern man. His dad was a Dutchman who worked on the hydro dams and had 6 children. Kees has been as 'productive' and has 6 children of his own with ages ranging from 10 years to 25 years.In 1996 he moved to Dunedin to play rugby at the invitatuioin of Des Smith. He soon found out thatt it was a bit colder than Auckland. his persuits were huntinh, fishing, diving and rugby. he ''did his back in' and "went back to Auckland it make it a good team in 2003". Then off to France for 4.5 years where he frequented all the pleasures that France can offer. it was a good life and his kids learnt frech which was even mmore of a bonus.
! year in Wales meant that his daughters spoke french with a Welsh accent. Kees was in the All Blacks in the 1998/2004 periodwhere he played 45 tests and 45 matches.
His mantra was "To leave the jersey in a better condition than when he got it.
He went to university and gained a BA in Fine Arts - majoring in sculpture. He jooined AJ GArdner Builders ona 6 month appreticeship and it lasted 3 years.
Kees coached the Otago team with Tony Brown and Phil Young developing Otago rugby with the "hnd up not the hand out" approach. "In 1997 Otago 'got spanked' in the Super 12 and tha NPC was not great either". BUT 1998 was a new year. The DJ Graham approach of "you can believe anything when you work in the compmany of those that do". That is the difference between then and now - belief plus the support of the crowd. The was a lot of support and love on and off the field.
Success does not come easy, all the cord sees is a win but there is a mountain of sweat and tears to get to tht point. The couching team ran clinics for 15 to 30 year olds. Slowly withthat approach club rugby got better and the youung ones could see a growth path as Otago promoted otago players rather than importing 'outsiders'. If players did come from outside the area they had to play club rugby.
He needed a life after rugby so did a couse in Applied Management and got a position in real estate with Metro and has been there for 4 years at Metro.where he was runner up in the 2017-18 year.
Kees was awarded a PHF for his effort in an opposing players neck from injury by 'back off' in a scrum.
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