Neil Maritz
{{short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use South African English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| name = Neil Maritz
| image =
| fullname = Neil Kobus Maritz
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|02|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Worcester, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.82}}
| weight = {{convert|95|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Paarl Boys' High School
| university =
| relatives =
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 2013–2015
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}}
| years1 = 2014–2016
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Sharks XV}}
| apps1 = 17
| points1 = 25
| years2 = 2016
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}}
| apps2 = 4
| points2 = 0
| years3 = 2017
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}
| apps3 = 7
| points3 = 25
| years5 = 2017–2021
| clubs5 = {{Rut|Pumas}}
| apps5 = 19
| points5 = 45
| clubupdate = 12 January 2022
}}
Neil Kobus Maritz (born 22 February 1994) is a South African rugby union player for the {{Rut|Pumas}} in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=124354 | name=Neil Maritz | date=3 August 2016}} He can play as a winger or a centre.
Rugby career
=Youth rugby / Sharks XV=
Maritz was born in Worcester and attended Paarl Boys' High School, where he played first team rugby in 2012. He was selected in a Western Province Under-18 Elite Squad in 2011 and 2012, but wasn't selected to represent them at any major youth tournaments, such as the Craven Week.{{cite web | url=http://www.unionsportsgroup.com/rugby-players/u21/199-neil-maritz | title=Neil Maritz | work=Union Sports Group | access-date=3 August 2016}}
After high school, Maritz moved to Durban to join the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} academy. He was included in the {{Rut|Sharks U19}} squad for the 2013 Under-19 Provincial Championship and made five starts for them in the competition, scoring tries in matches against {{Rut|Golden Lions U19}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=108714 | homeid=14504 | awayid=14524 | leagueid=1424 | hometeam=Sharks | homescore=13 | awayscore=21 | awayteam=MTN Golden Lions | matchdate=19 July 2013 | date=3 August 2016}} {{Rut|Free State U19}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=108774 | homeid=14504 | awayid=14464 | leagueid=1424 | hometeam=Sharks | homescore=55 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=Toyota Free State | matchdate=3 August 2013 | date=3 August 2016}} and {{Rut|Western Province U19}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=108844 | homeid=14484 | awayid=14504 | leagueid=1424 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=19 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=The Sharks U19 | matchdate=17 August 2013 | date=3 August 2016}}
In 2014, he was included in the {{Rut|Sharks XV}} squad that participated in the 2014 Vodacom Cup. He made his first class debut by starting their opening match of the season against the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}} in East London. In addition to making his debut in the match, but he also scored his first senior try ten minutes into the second half, as his side won the match 46–24.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=117814 | homeid=17544 | awayid=17584 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=Border Bulldogs | homescore=24 | awayscore=46 | awayteam=Cell C Sharks XV | matchdate=7 March 2014 | date=3 August 2016}} He made a total of six appearances in the competition, scoring further tries against the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=118014 | homeid=17584 | awayid=17594 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=Cell C Sharks XV | homescore=27 | awayscore=10 | awayteam=SWD Eagles | matchdate=29 March 2014 | date=3 August 2016}} and Kenyan side {{Rut|Simba XV}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=118864 | homeid=17574 | awayid=17584 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=Tusker Simba XV | homescore=3 | awayscore=40 | awayteam=Cell C Sharks XV | matchdate=12 April 2014 | date=3 August 2016}} to help his team finish top of the Southern Section log to qualify for the quarter finals.{{SA Rugby Log | id=1734 | comp=2014 Vodacom Cup | date=3 August 2016}} He didn't feature in their quarter final match against a {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}}, where the team suffered a 20–27 loss to be eliminated from the competition.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=118294 | homeid=17584 | awayid=17474 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=Cell C Sharks XV | homescore=20 | awayscore=27 | awayteam=Golden Lions | matchdate=2 May 2014 | date=3 August 2016}} In the second half of the season, Maritz was in action for the Sharks' Under-21 team; he made five appearances for the team in the Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring tries against {{Rut|Border U21}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=120974 | homeid=18464 | awayid=18494 | leagueid=1834 | hometeam=Border U21 | homescore=10 | awayscore=59 | awayteam=Sharks U21 | matchdate=5 September 2014 | date=3 August 2016}} and {{Rut|Free State U21}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=121004 | homeid=18484 | awayid=18494 | leagueid=1834 | hometeam=Free State U21 | homescore=43 | awayscore=21 | awayteam=Sharks U21 | matchdate=13 September 2014 | date=3 August 2016}} but it wasn't enough to secure a semi-final berth as the team finished in fifth position.{{SA Rugby Log | id=1834 | comp=2014 Absa Under 21 Competition | date=3 August 2016}}
Maritz made three starts for the {{Rut|Sharks XV}} in the 2015 Vodacom Cup competition. He failed to contribute any points in a disappointing season for his side, which could win just two matches in the competition to finish outside the play-off spots.{{SA Rugby Log | id=2304 | comp=2015 Vodacom Cup | date=3 August 2016}} The {{Rut|Sharks U21}} team had an improved performance in Group A of the 2015 Under-21 Provincial Championship, finishing in third position.{{SA Rugby Log | id=2544 | comp=2015 Absa Under 21 Competition | date=3 August 2016}} Maritz started eight of their matches during the regular season, scoring a try in their match against the Golden Lions{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147124 | homeid=27034 | awayid=27004 | leagueid=2544 | hometeam=Golden Lions U21 | homescore=23 | awayscore=27 | awayteam=Sharks U21 | matchdate=19 September 2015 | date=3 August 2016}} and a try and penalty against the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U21}}s,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147154 | homeid=27004 | awayid=27044 | leagueid=2544 | hometeam=Sharks U21 | homescore=29 | awayscore=23 | awayteam=Blue Bulls U21 | matchdate=25 September 2015 | date=3 August 2016}} and also started their semi-final match against {{Rut|Free State U21}}, which the team from Bloemfontein won 27–22 to end the Sharks' involvement in the competition.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147244 | homeid=27014 | awayid=27004 | leagueid=2544 | hometeam=Free State U21 | homescore=27 | awayscore=22 | awayteam=Sharks U21 | matchdate=17 October 2015 | date=3 August 2016}}
Maritz represented the Sharks XV for the third consecutive season in 2016 – in the qualification series that replaced the Vodacom Cup – and appeared in eight of their fourteen matches in the competition. He scored tries in victories over the {{Rut|Leopards}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=158934 | homeid=30754 | awayid=30794 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=Cell C Sharks XV | homescore=26 | awayscore=23 | awayteam=Leopards | matchdate=1 July 2016 | date=3 August 2016}} and {{Rut|Griffons}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=165254 | homeid=30784 | awayid=30754 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=Down Touch Griffons | homescore=27 | awayscore=36 | awayteam=Cell C Sharks XV | matchdate=9 July 2016 | date=3 August 2016}} for a Sharks XV team that finished in 10th place on the log.{{SA Rugby Log | id=2824 | comp=2016 Currie Cup Qualifying | date=3 August 2016}}
=Sharks=
Maritz was included in the Sharks squad for the 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division and named in the starting line-up for their opening match of the competition against {{Rut|Western Province}}.{{cite press release | url=http://sharksrugby.co.za/week-one-currie-cup-action | title=Week One Currie Cup Action | publisher=Sharks | date=2 August 2016 | access-date=3 August 2016}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maritz, Neil}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from Worcester, South Africa
Category:Sharks (Currie Cup) players
Category:Eastern Province Elephants players
Category:Pumas (Currie Cup) players