SAM NOCK

Position
Halfback

Blues debut
2016 v Hurricanes

Blues caps
73 (SR 72)

Blues points
10

Born
18/06/96

Height
178cm

Weight
85kg

Nock is a proud product of the Northland Taniwha. He played three seasons for Saint Kentigern College 1st XV, captaining them to both a national and World Schools crown in his senior year.  

The Nock is a proud product of the Northland Taniwha. He played three seasons for Saint Kentigern College, captaining them to both a national and World Schools crown in his senior year. The halfback was then selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2014, playing in wins over Fiji and Australia. 

Sam made his debut for Northland in 2015, playing in all 10 games for the Taniwha that season.  

In 2016 Sam was selected for the New Zealand Under 20s side where he was a standout. 

He is a player with a fast, long pass and an excellent kicking game. His strong running game and vision make him a danger around the fringes of the ruck. A senior player with Northland, Sam  

Nock was named his home union’s Player of the Year after playing his 50th game for his childhood province. 

Sam made his debut for the Blues as a replacement against the Hurricanes in 2016 and has gone on to be a familiar face in Blues squads since. Nock was even part of the team who tasted victory against the British and Irish Lions in 2017. 

2020 was a watershed year for Sam, becoming a key contributor to the Blues success and helping to ignite a potent Blues backline.  

2021 saw Nock enter into a season long battle with Finlay Christie and Jonathan Ruru, dueling for a place in the team each week. 

Nock has appeared for the New Zealand Māori team on several occasions, most recently in 2024.  

In 2022 he was once again prominent in the Blues campaign and a leader for the Northland NPC side. After backing up Finlay Christie for large parts of 2023, Nock was back to some of his best form in 2024 and between himself, Christie and Taufa Funaki formed three of the most potent halfbacks in the competition.  

Fans will remember a special moment from the championship season when Nock came on as a substitute against the Reds and received the last pass to score the match-winning try after the final hooter. That win ignited the Blues’ drive towards the title and was a special moment for a long-time Blues man.  

Nock returns in 2025 looking to form part of the blossoming halfback trio at Blues HQ.  

Sam is contracted with the Blues through until the end of the 2026 season.