Charles Marais
| Full name | Charles Maclean Marais | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 29 August 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Paarl, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 120 kg (18 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Paarl Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of the Free State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Charles Maclean Marais (born 29 August 1988 in Paarl, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Template:Rut Cheetahs.[1] His regular position is prop.
Career
Youth and Varsity rugby
Despite not representing Template:Rut Western Province at secondary school level while a scholar at Paarl Boys' High School, Marais were included in the Template:Rut Free State U19 squad for the 2007 Under-19 Provincial Championship after he moved to Bloemfontein to enroll at the University of the Free State. He also represented his university side in the Varsity Cup competition, playing for them in five consecutive seasons between 2009 and 2013, amassing 26 appearances and scoring three tries.
Free State Cheetahs
His first class debut came during the 2010 Vodacom Cup competition. He missed the early rounds of the competition due to his involvement in the 2010 Varsity Cup competition, but made his debut by starting in their Round 6 loss against Argentinean invitational side the Template:Rut Pampas XV in Parow, Cape Town.[2] He remained in the starting line-up for the remainder of the competition and helped the Free State XV reach the final, where they lost 31–29 to the Template:Rut Blue Bulls.[3] He remained involved in the Free State's Vodacom Cup campaigns in 2011, 2012 and 2013, making a total of fifteen appearances. However, he was never included in a Currie Cup squad during his time in Bloemfontein.
Griffons
His lack of involvement in Currie Cup action for the Template:Rut Free State Cheetahs saw Marais have two short spells at near-neighbours the Template:Rut Griffons. He made his Currie Cup debut for them during the 2012 Currie Cup First Division in their match against the Template:Rut Falcons, marking the occasion by scoring his first ever senior try early in the second half.[4] He made five appearances in the competition for the Welkom-based side and returned for one match in 2013, coming on as a substitute against the Template:Rut Pumas in Nelspruit.[5]
Golden Lions / Lions
Marais moved to Johannesburg to join the Template:Rut Golden Lions for the 2014 season. He was a regular in their squad for the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition, playing in all ten of their matches during the competition, starting eight of those. He was once again involved in a Vodacom Cup final, but once again ended up on the losing side, as the Golden Lions lost 30–6 to Template:Rut Griquas in Kimberley.[6]
Marais also made his Super Rugby debut during the 2014 season, coming on as a substitute in their match against the Template:Rut Bulls[7] after being a late inclusion on the bench following Julian Redelinghuys' withdrawal through injury.[8]
Eastern Province Kings
In July 2014, it was announced that Marais would join the Template:Rut Eastern Province Kings prior to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division competition. He signed a deal that would see him play for the Port Elizabeth-based side until the end of 2016.[9]
References
- ^ "SARU Player Profile Charles Marais". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ "Match Breakdown: Pampas XV vs Free State". South African Rugby Union. 10 April 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ "Match Breakdown: Blue Bulls vs Free State". South African Rugby Union. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ "Match Breakdown: Valke vs Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ "Match Breakdown: Steval Pumas vs Down Touch Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ "Match Breakdown: GWK Griquas vs Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ "Match Breakdown: Lions vs Vodacom Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ "Bulls likely to end season without playoffs spot – Van der Merwe". Citizen. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ "Kloppers verruil Leeus vir Griekwas" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.