Michael Horak

Michael John Horak (born 3 June 1977 in Johannesburg) is a former rugby union footballer and former rugby league player who last played at fullback or wing for Saracens.

After playing for the Free State Schools Cravenweek side in 1995 and the Free State U21s in 1996 he moved to Australia to play Rugby League, where he represented the Perth Reds. He has also played for the South Africa national rugby league team, including at the 1997 Super League World Nines.

Horak was signed by Bob Dwyer for the Leicester Tigers in 1997 and became Leicester's first-choice full back, replacing the retiring John Liley and ahead of Fijian international Waisale Serevi. He also played for the England U21 side. However, he dropped to third choice after Tiger's signing of Tim Stimpson and Geordan Murphy.

Horak subsequently followed Dwyer to Bristol before signing for London Irish in 1999. He left Irish in 2000 but re-signed in 2001.

He started in the 2002 Powergen Cup Final at Twickenham, as London Irish defeated the Northampton Saints.

His solitary England cap came during the Senior tour of Argentina, on 22 June 2002 at the Estadio José Amalfitani. He qualifies for England via his English mother.

After spending two seasons with Benetton Rugby Treviso, Horak signed with Saracens for the 2009-10 season but announced his retirement with immediate effect in January 2010. He is a tall player with a big left boot.

Famous quotes containing the word michael:

    Yes, that’s what I needed. Living flesh from humans for my experiments. What difference did it make if a few people had to die? Their flesh taught me how to manufacture arms, legs, faces that are human. I’ll make a crippled world whole again.
    Robert Tusker, and Michael Curtiz. Wells (Preston Foster)