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'Legend' De Kock bids Saracens farewell

Cape Town - Former Springbok scrumhalf Neil de Kock will play the final game of his career when Saracens take on Bristol at Allianz Park on Saturday. 

De Kock, 38, has been at Saracens for the past 11 years and is considered as one of the greats to have played at the club.

"Neil (de Kock) will always be remembered as one of the true greats of Saracens. His contribution to this club over 11-years really is hard to put into words - he will rightly be remembered as a Saracens legend," the club's director of rugby Mark McCall told the Saracens website

De Kock will be joined by Scottish flank Kelly Brown, who has played for Saracens since 2010, in playing their last games for the club. 

De Kock said that his roots were now embedded in Saracens. 

"This club has given me so much," he told the website.

"I’ve had such a brilliant time at this club and I would have had three children while being involved with this club and there is no place I would rather finish my career.

"A lot of memories I will take with me are the off-field memories. We’ve been fortunate to have had some unbelievable trips all around the world and to share these experiences with some incredible individuals.

"The 11 years I’ve been playing rugby here I’ve probably played with 100 guys and it has been fantastic times. To keep contact with those guys for the next two decades would be brilliant."

Current Springbok defensive consultant Brendan Venter was among many who took to Twitter to congratulate De Kock on his career. 

De Kock played 10 Tests for the Springboks between 2001 and 2003. 

This Saturday will be De Kock's 178th English Premiership match. 

During his time at Saracens, he won three Premiership titles (2011, 2015, 2016) and the European Rugby Champions Cup (2016). 

Before that, he won two Currie Cup titles with Western Province in 2000 and 2001. 

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