Full name: André Neale Vos
Height: 1.90m
Weight: 104kg
Date of Birth: 9.1.75
Place of Birth: East London, South Africa
Educated at: Selborne College, East London & University of Port Elizabeth
Position: No. 8 or flanker
Marital Status: Married (to Carolyn)
SA Debut: 12 June 1999 (against Italy at Port Elizabeth)
Caps: 33 (16 as captain)
International Tries: 5

Playing Career: Selborne College, Border, Eastern Province U/21; Mighty Elephants (1995-1996), South Africa U21 (1996), South Africa A (1996), South Africa Barbarian 7s (1996), Gauteng Lions (1997-2000), Queensland Reds (1998), Emerging Springboks (1998), Springboks (1998-2001), Springbok Captain (June 2000- June 2001), Cats (1999-2002), Harlequins (1st November 2002-?)

André Vos captained the Springboks 16 times, taking over the reins from Joost van der Westhuizen after the 1999 Rugby World Cup. In a very unpopular move Bob Skinstad then replaced him as captain and No8, under the coaching of Harry Viljoen and Vos moved to the flank where he again showed he was a world class player. In February 2002 Vos surprised everyone when he said he would no longer be available to play for the Springboks because the physical demands of international rugby were too much. He is so well respected in his homeland that top South African officials including the minister of sport Ncgonde Balfour urged him to reconsider.

Vos was presented with a Silver Sports Award from South African President Thabo Mbeki in March this year and was also South Africa's Rugby Player of the Year in 2001.

This season he missed the start of the Cats’ Super 12 campaign due to a shoulder ligament injury which he sustained playing against the USA, but he is back from injury now and will be playing for the Lions in the Currie Cup (South Africa’s domestic competition) until October 2002 before moving to Quins. Vos was previously linked with a move to Leeds or London Irish before seeing the light and signing with us and joining a back row that can boast Pat Sanderson, Roy Winters, Tony Diprose, and Luke Sherriff. Vos used to share a house with Garrick Morgan when they both played for the Queensland Reds in 1998 and seemed to be looking forward to playing alongside him again, but sadly since Garrick has now left this can’t happen – although they might meet in a European Shield game on opposite sides.

The fact that he is counted as an EU qualified player (his wife Carolyn holds a British passport), that he can play in any of the back row positions, he has experience as an international captain and he has committed to Quins for three and a half years can only be good things. Let’s hope he can do for Quins what David Wilson did for us two seasons ago.

Vos’ Quins contract starts on 1st November 2002.

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