Niel Marais

Daniel Rudolf Marais (born 21 January 1992, in Bloemfontein) is a South African rugby union player for Yamaha Júbilo in the Top League in Japan.[1] He usually plays as a centre, but can also play as a fly-half or fullback.

Niel Marais
Full nameDaniel Rudolf Marais
Date of birth (1992-01-21) 21 January 1992
Place of birthBloemfontein, South Africa
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Weight97 kg (15 st 4 lb; 214 lb)
SchoolGrey College, Bloemfontein
UniversityUniversity of the Free State
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre / Fullback / Fly-half
Youth career
2005–2013 Free State Cheetahs
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015 UFS Shimlas 8 (63)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2016 Free State XV 19 (92)
2014 → Griquas 1 (0)
2015–2017 Free State Cheetahs 15 (145)
2015–2018 Cheetahs 39 (213)
2018 Yamaha Júbilo 2 (2)
2019–2020 Aurillac 2 (9)
2020–2021 Pumas 5 (12)
Correct as of 12 January 2022

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
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Niel Marais". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  2. "SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2011 ABSA Under 19 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  3. "SA Rugby Squad – Toyota Free State XV : 2013 Vodacom Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Western Districts 8–31 Toyota Free State XV". South African Rugby Union. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  5. "Big early win for Free State". Sport24. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State XV 52–47 SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  7. "Hawies verbeter GW se diepte" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
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