Niel Marais
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Daniel Rudolf Marais | ||
| Born |
21 January 1992 Bloemfontein, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Weight | 97 kg (15 st 4 lb) | ||
| School(s) attended | Grey College, Bloemfontein | ||
| University | University of the Free State | ||
| Club information | |||
| Playing position | Centre / Fullback / Fly-half | ||
| Current club | Cheetahs / Free State Cheetahs | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2013 | Free State Cheetahs | ||
| Amateur team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 2015 | UFS Shimlas | 8 | (63) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Pts)† |
| 2013–present | Free State XV | 19 | (92) |
| 2014 | → Griquas | 1 | (0) |
| 2015–present | Free State Cheetahs | 12 | (114) |
| 2015–present | Cheetahs | 13 | (85) |
|
* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 25 October 2016. | |||
Daniel Rudolf Marais (born 21 January 1992 in Bloemfontein) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing in the international Super Rugby competition with the Cheetahs and domestic rugby with the Free State Cheetahs.[1] He usually plays as a centre, but can also play as a fly-half or fullback.
Career
Youth
Marais first represented the Free State in 2005, when he was part of their squad for the 2005 Under-13 Craven Week competition. He represented the Free State U19 side (playing mainly as a fullback) in the Under-19 Provincial Championship competitions in 2010 and 2011, scoring 124 points in the latter competition to finish third in the scoring charts.[2] He advanced to the Free State U21 side, playing the majority of matches for them during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, with 2013 also seeing him starting to play mainly as a centre.
Free State Cheetahs
He was included in the Free State XV squad for the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition[3] and made his senior debut when he started the opening match of the season, a 31–8 victory over the SWD Eagles in George.[4] He made a total of six appearances during the competition.
He returned to Vodacom Cup action in 2014, captaining the side[5] and scoring 41 points in his six starts. His first try in first class rugby came in their opening day match against the SWD Eagles,[6] with Marais adding another 10 points with the boot.
Griquas
In May 2014, he joined Griquas on a two-month deal for the duration of the 2014 Currie Cup qualification series.[7]
References
- ↑ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Niel Marais". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
- ↑ "SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2011 ABSA Under 19 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ↑ "SA Rugby Squad – Toyota Free State XV : 2013 Vodacom Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Western Districts 8-31 Toyota Free State XV". South African Rugby Union. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- ↑ "Big early win for Free State". Sport24. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
- ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State XV 52-47 SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- ↑ "Hawies verbeter GW se diepte" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.