Immanuel "Manie" Libbok (born 15 July 1997) is a South African professional rugby union player. His current club is the Japanese-based Hanazono Kintetsu Liners. Libbok holds the record for most points scored in a single Japanese club rugby game ever at 37 points. He is also the only fly-half in history to orchestrate in two consecutive appearances, back-to-back record victories against the New Zealand, All Blacks. Doing so in his first and only start and in his follow up appearance.
Early life Born on 15 July 1997 in Humansdorp, a small town in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. His early life was characterized by his street-level rugby roots and the significant support from his mother and late grandmother. He attended Graslaagte Primary School before his notable talent led him to HTS Daniël Pienaar in Uitenhage, where he earned his initial provincial selection for the Eastern Province under-16 team. He competed in the 2013 Grant Khomo Week in Vanderbijlpark, where he famously scored tries against the Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions.
This early success was a major catalyst for his career, leading to his move to Hoërskool Outeniqua in George, Western Cape the following year to further his development. His time at the "Kwaggas" was marked by three major achievements: representing the SWD Eagles, he competed in the Under-18 Craven Week for two consecutive years (2014–15). In the 2015 tournament in Stellenbosch, he finished tied for second-most tries (4) and top point scorer from three matches in the tournament. These standout performances earned him a call up to the South Africa Schools team for the Under-18 International Series where he starred at both wing and fly-half, helping the team finish the series unbeaten.
Career 2013–2015: Schoolboy rugby Born in Humansdorp, he attended HTS Daniël Pienaar in Uitenhage, where he earned his first provincial selection in 2013, representing Eastern Province at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week, scoring tries in matches against the Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions.
Libbok moved to George for 2014, where he attended Hoërskool Outeniqua. He represented the George-based at the premier South African high schools rugby union tournament, the Under-18 Craven Week, in both 2014 and 2015. In the first match at the 2015 tournament held in Stellenbosch, Libbok scored two tries, four conversions and one penalty for a personal points haul of 21 points in his side's 31–41 defeat to former side Eastern Province. He followed this up with a try and four conversions against the Golden Lions and a third try and two conversions against KwaZulu-Natal in their final match. He scored a total of 43 points in three matches, making him the top scorer at the competition, while his four tries were the joint-second most in the competition, one behind Western Province's Nico Leonard.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Libbok was included in a South Africa Schools team that played in the 2015 Under-18 International Series on home soil against their counterparts from Wales, France and England. He started on the left wing in their 42–11 victory over Wales in their first match, but dropped to the bench for match against France, not getting any game time in their 12–5 victory. He returned to the starting line-up for their final match against England, helping them to a 23–16 victory to finish the series with a 100% record.
2016–2017: Blue Bulls / South Africa U20 After high school, Libbok moved to Pretoria to join the academy. In March 2016, he was included in a South Africa Under-20 training squad, and made the cut to be named in a reduced provisional squad a week later.
Libbok was also named in the squad for the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series and he made his first class debut on 8 April 2016, starting as a fullback in their 16–30 defeat to in Round One of the competition. He also started their match against a a week later, scoring his first senior points by slotting a penalty in the 15th minute of the match, and scoring his first try in the final ten minutes which proved decisive as the Blue Bulls won the match 20–17. He also started their next match against Gauteng rivals the and played off the bench in their defeat to the in Port Elizabeth.
On 10 May 2016, Libbok was included in the final South Africa Under-20 squad for the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship tournament to be held in Manchester in England. He started their opening match in Pool C of the tournament in the fly-half position, scoring a try as South Africa came from behind to beat Japan 59–19. He switched positions with fullback Curwin Bosch for their second pool match, a 13–19 defeat to Argentina, but reverted to fly-half as South Africa bounced back to secure a 40-31 bonus-point victory over France in their final pool match, with Libbok scoring his second try of the competition just after the hour mark. The result meant South Africa secured a semi-final place as the best runner-up in the competition, and Libbok started their semi-final match as they faced three-time champions England. The hosts proved too strong for South Africa, knocking them out of the competition with a 39–17 victory, and they also lost the third-place play-off match against Argentina, with the South American side beating South Africa for the second time in the tournament, convincingly winning 49–19 to condemn South Africa to fourth place in the competition. Libbok scored his third try of the competition in the defeat, to finish the competition with three tries, the joint-most by a South African player with Zain Davids and Edwill van der Merwe.
Libbok returned to domestic action for the team in the 2016 Under-19 Provincial Championship. He made seven starts in the competition, scoring three tries during the season – one against and two against – as well as 35 points with the boot through 16 conversions and one penalty. He finished the competition as the Blue Bulls' second-highest points scorer, and helped them to second place on the log to secure a semi-final spot, at which stage they lost to . He also made a single start for the team in the 2016 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring a try in a 52–38 victory over .
In November 2016, he was named in the Super Rugby team's extended training squad during the team's preparations for the 2017 Super Rugby season. After 6 appearances from the bench, coach John Mitchell gave the then 20 year old his first start at fly-half against the Jaguares in Argentina. With Springboks incumbent pivot Handré Pollard moving to inside centre for injured captain Burger Odendal.
2020–2021: Sharks Libbok joined the Sharks from the Bulls in 2020, seeking more game time, he was described by then coach, Sean Everitt, as a "tricky customer with X-factor." He made his official debut for the Sharks at fullback against the Lions in Durban during the opening round of the 2020 Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked tournament contributing to a 19-16 win on October 9, 2020.
2021–2025: Stormers Libbok debuted for the Stormers in 2021, in Italy facing Benetton in a losing effort after the home side made a second half comeback. He went on to feature prominently for the Cape outfit after impressing coach, John Dobson. The Stormers, only lost 4 games leading into the knockout stages for that season. During a semi-final clash against Irish side, Ulster, where the visitors were leading by 5 points after the hooter already sounded. Libbok made a skip pass assisting Warrick Gelant to score a try leveling the scoreboard. Libbok made the conversion from the touchline sending his team into the finals of the inaugural United Rugby Championship. In the final, he faced his former club the Bulls, and kicked a drop goal to extend a small lead which proved decisive to ultimately securing the title. He was the leading point scorer, accumulating 171 points. A feat he replicated the following season, scoring 217 points but failed to win the trophy a second time in the final after two man of the match performances in both the quarter- and semi-finals. Libbok was named DHL Stormers Player of the Year on October 25, 2022 as well as the 2022-23 season's URC Player of the Season for South Africa, succeeding teammate Evan Roos who won the inaugural honour.
2025-: Kintetsu Liners On July 22, Libbok's signing was officially announced by the Japanese outfit after reports had been making rounds since March. Initial reports hinted at a sabbatical request, but it turned out to be a long-term endeavor after Libbok announced his departure from the Stormers. He was signed with the Cape outfit until 2027 and according to coach, John Dobson, wanted to honour his contract. Dobson, whom had been very vocal about having both Libbok and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, said that it was impossible for both of them to coexist at the franchise. He also mentioned the latter's request one year prior to only play fly-half and mentioned that he doesn't desire to play from the bench. Therefore, Libbok's offer couldn't have come at a more opportune time. Dobson, declared that Manie leaves with their blessing and an open invitation to return in the future.