Charles Marais

Charles Marais
Full name	Charles Maclean Marais
Date of birth	29 August 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth	Paarl, South Africa
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	120 kg (18 st 13 lb; 265 lb)
School	Paarl Boys' High School
University	University of the Free State
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	Prop
Youth career
2007	Free State Cheetahs
Amateur team(s)
Years	Team
2009–2013	UFS Shimlas
Senior career
Years	Team
2010–2011	Free State Cheetahs
2012–2013	Free State XV
2012–2013	→ Griffons
2014	Golden Lions XV
2014	Lions
2014–2015	Eastern Province Kings
2016–2020	Cheetahs
2016–2021	Free State Cheetahs
	Correct as of 14 April 2021

Charles Maclean Marais (born 29 August 1988) was a South African rugby union professional player for the Cheetahs in the Pro14 and the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup.^[1] His regular position is prop.

Career

Youth and Varsity rugby

Despite not representing Western Province at secondary school level while a scholar at Paarl Boys' High School, Marais were included in the 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 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 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 Free State Cheetahs saw Marais have two short spells at near-neighbours the Griffons. He made his Currie Cup debut for them during the 2012 Currie Cup First Division in their match against the 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 Pumas in Nelspruit.^[5]

Golden Lions / Lions

Marais moved to Johannesburg to join the 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 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 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 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

^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Charles Marais". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Pampas XV 36–24 Free State". South African Rugby Union. 10 April 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Blue Bulls 31–29 Free State". South African Rugby Union. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Valke 27–37 Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Steval Pumas 56–10 Down Touch Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – GWK Griquas 30–6 Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Lions 32–21 Vodacom Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
^ "Bulls likely to end season without playoffs spot – Van der Merwe". Citizen. 1 June 2014. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
^ "Kloppers verruil Leeus vir Griekwas" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 11 July 2014. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.

[SARU_Player_Profile_Charles_Marais-1] "SA Rugby Player Profile – Charles Marais". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.

[Pampas_XV_36-24_Free_State-2] "SA Rugby Match Centre – Pampas XV 36–24 Free State". South African Rugby Union. 10 April 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2016.

[Blue_Bulls_31-29_Free_State-3] "SA Rugby Match Centre – Blue Bulls 31–29 Free State". South African Rugby Union. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2016.

[Valke_27-37_Griffons-4] "SA Rugby Match Centre – Valke 27–37 Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2016.

[Steval_Pumas_56-10_Down_Touch_Griffons-5] "SA Rugby Match Centre – Steval Pumas 56–10 Down Touch Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2016.

[GWK_Griquas_30-6_Golden_Lions-6] "SA Rugby Match Centre – GWK Griquas 30–6 Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2016.

[Lions_32-21_Vodacom_Bulls-7] "SA Rugby Match Centre – Lions 32–21 Vodacom Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2016.

[Bulls_likely_to_end_season_without_playoffs_spot_–_Van_der_Merwe-8] "Bulls likely to end season without playoffs spot – Van der Merwe". Citizen. 1 June 2014. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2014.

[Kloppers_verruil_Leeus_vir_Griekwas-9] "Kloppers verruil Leeus vir Griekwas" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 11 July 2014. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.

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