Murray Koster
{{short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Murray Koster
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|2|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{convert|6|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on}}
| weight_kg = 98
| school = St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown
| university =
| relatives =
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation =
| weight_update =
| ru_currentposition = Centre
| ru_currentteam = {{Rut|Hino Red Dolphins}}
| youthyears1 = 2017
| youthclubs1 = Eastern Province Elephants
| youthyears2 = 2018–2020
| youthclubs2 = Sharks
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 =
| amatapps1 =
| amatpoints1 =
| years1 = 2019
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Sharks XV}}
| apps1 = 1
| points1 = 0
| years2 = 2020–2024
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Sharks}}
| apps2 = 3
| points2 = 0
| years3 = 2020–2024
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}}
| apps3 = 11
| points3 = 13
| years4 = 2024–
| clubs4 = {{Rut|Hino Red Dolphins}}
| apps4 =
| points4 =
| clubupdate = 23 July 2022
}}
Murray Koster (born 12 February 1999) is a South African rugby union player from East London, Eastern Cape. He plays for the Sharks franchise as a centre.{{cite web|url=https://sharksrugby.co.za/player/murray-koster-4/ |title=Murray Koster |publisher=Sharks |date=12 February 1999 |accessdate=11 July 2021}}
Early life and career
Koster was educated at St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown, and played rugby for the school.{{cite web|url=https://rugby365.com/schools/news-sa-schools/st-andrews-take-down-selborne-heroes/ |title=St Andrew's take down Selborne heroes |publisher=Rugby365 |date=29 May 2017 |accessdate=11 July 2021}} For his performances during Craven Week, he was called up to play for Eastern Province Elephants to play for their Country Districts team in 2017 but left them to join the Sharks youth system in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/superrugby/how-the-sharks-plan-to-fill-the-no-12-void-left-by-andre-esterhuizen-20200918 |title=How the Sharks plan to fill the No 12 void left by Andre Esterhuizen |url-access=subscription |publisher=News24 |date=19 September 2020 |accessdate=11 July 2021}} In the same year, he played for the Sharks' Currie Cup team when they won the 2018 Under-19 Provincial Championship against the Blue Bulls.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/sharks-claim-sa-rugby-u19-championship/ |title=Sharks claim SA Rugby U-19 Championship |publisher=SA Rugby Mag |accessdate=11 July 2021}} In 2019, Koster played for the Sharks XV in the Rugby Challenge.{{Cite web |url= https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/wp-pumas-secure-rugby-challenge-semi-final-place/ |title=WP, Pumas secure semi-final place |publisher=SA Rugby Mag |accessdate=11 July 2021}} Later in the year, he was invited to a South Africa national under-20 rugby union team selection camp for the Junior Springboks in the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship,{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/springboks/junior-boks-set-to-kick-off-2019-preparations-20181031 |title=Junior Boks set to kick off 2019 preparations | Sport |publisher=News24 |date= |accessdate=11 July 2021}} however he was not selected. In 2020, he was added to the Sharks' Super Rugby squad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/rugby/2020-01-21-lukhanyo-am-to-captain-the-sharks-for-the-2020-super-rugby-season/|title = Lukhanyo Am to captain the Sharks for the 2020 Super Rugby season |publisher=The Sowetan |accessdate=11 July 2021}} However, a few months later, the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/super-rugby/super-rugby-sanzaar-competition-to-be-halted-for-the-foreseeable-future/news-story/9793242c08bab0fe2b232f011699e28c |title=Super Rugby season to shut down for the 'foreseeable future' at end of current round |work=Fox Sports |date=16 March 2020 |accessdate=11 July 2021}} The teams from South Africa instead played in the Super Rugby Unlocked tournament over October and November.{{cite web |url=https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/superrugby/sa-rugby-teams-to-play-for-2-titles-super-rugby-unlocked-and-currie-cup-20200918 |title=SA rugby teams to play for 2 titles: Super Rugby Unlocked and Currie Cup |date=18 September 2020 |website=News 24 |accessdate=9 August 2021}}
In 2021, Koster made his professional rugby debut for the Sharks against the Griquas in the Preparation Series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/super-rugby/selection-headaches-loom-for-sharks-coach-d1463560-02bf-44a7-852a-a94853a6e22d|title = Selection headaches loom for Sharks coach |publisher=IOL |accessdate=11 July 2021}} However he missed the start of the Pro14 Rainbow Cup due to injury.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/witness/sport/rugby/game-time-at-last-for-the-sharks-20210430|title=Game-time at last for the Sharks |publisher=News24 |accessdate=11 July 2021}} On 10 July, he was selected to play for the Sharks in their second match against the touring British and Irish Lions, paired in the centre with Werner Kok.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/lions-2021/sharks-team-to-play-british-irish-lions-127631 |work=Rugby World |accessdate=11 July 2021|title=Sharks team to play British & Irish Lions|date=9 July 2021}} This followed the Lions having to rearrange their tour after their match against the Bulls was suspended following a COVID-19 outbreak in the Bulls team.{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/16057/12349906/british-irish-lions-tour-match-against-bulls-postponed-over-covid-19-cases |title=British & Irish Lions' tour match against Bulls postponed over Covid-19 cases |publisher=Sky Sports |date=7 July 2021 |accessdate=11 July 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{ItsRugby|45387}}
- [https://sharksrugby.co.za/player/murray-koster-4/ Sharks profile]
{{Sharks squad}}
{{Sharks (Currie Cup) squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koster, Murray}}
Category:Alumni of St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown
Category:Rugby union players from East London, South Africa
Category:Sharks (Currie Cup) players
Category:Sharks (rugby union) players
Category:South African rugby union players