SP Marais
{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = SP Marais
| image = Sarel Petrus Marais 210327a.jpg
| fullname = Sarel Petrus Marais
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1989|03|16}}
| birth_place = Parow, Cape Province, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.84}}
| weight = {{cvt|96|kg|lb stlb}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Paarl Boys' High School
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Fullback, Wing, Centre
| currentclub = Canon Eagles
| youthyears1 = 2008
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}
| years1 = 2010
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Leopards}}
| apps1 = 2
| points1 = 17
| years2 = 2011–2013
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}
| apps2 = 36
| points2 = 98
| years3 = 2013
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Southern Kings}}
| apps3 = 10
| points3 = 0
| years4 = 2013–2015
| clubs4 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}}
| apps4 = 24
| points4 = 41
| years5 = 2014–2015
| clubs5 = {{Rut|Sharks}}
| apps5 = 27
| points5 = 8
| years6 = 2016
| clubs6 = {{Rut|Bulls}}
| apps6 = 11
| points6 = 10
| years7 = 2017–2019
| clubs7 = {{Rut|Stormers}}
| apps7 = 29
| points7 = 178
| years8 = 2017–2019
| clubs8 = {{Rut|Western Province}}
| apps8 = 16
| points8 = 207
| years9 = 2020–2024
| clubs9 = Canon Eagles
| apps9 = 5
| points9 = 15
| amatyears1 = 2010
| amatteam1 = {{Rut|NWU Pukke}}
| amatapps1 = 4
| amatpoints1 = 10
| repyears1 = 2011
| repteam1 = South African Kings
| repcaps1 = 3
| reppoints1 = 0
| clubupdate = 20 February 2020
| repupdate = 18 April 2018
}}
Sarel Petrus Marais (born 16 March 1989) is a South African professional rugby union player for the {{Rut|Stormers}} in Super Rugby and {{Rut|Western Province}} in the Currie Cup.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=46266 | name=SP Marais | date=2 June 2016}} His position he plays is Fullback.
Career
=Youth and Varsity rugby=
Marais played for the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} in youth competitions and was part of the 2009 Vodacom Cup squad, without making a senior appearance. He then moved to Potchefstroom in 2010, where he played four matches for the {{Rut|NWU Pukke}} in the 2010 Varsity Cup competition.
Marais also played for the {{Rut|Leopards U21}} team during the 2010 Under-21 competition.
=Leopards=
Although Marais didn't play any games for the {{Rut|Leopards}} during the 2010 Currie Cup season, he made his first class debut in the Leopards' first relegation play-off match against the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}, scoring his first try within a minute of his debut when he came on as a first-half blood replacement and a second try right before the end of the match.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=19793 | homeid=8419 | awayid=8418 | leagueid=797 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=37 | awayscore=22 | awayteam=SWD Eagles | matchdate=23 October 2010 | date=2 December 2016}} He maintained his try-scoring exploits in the following match, scoring another try in the return leg{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=19795 | homeid=8418 | awayid=8419 | leagueid=797 | hometeam=SWD Eagles | homescore=32 | awayscore=28 | awayteam=Leopards | matchdate=29 October 2010 | date=2 December 2016}} to help keep the {{Rut|Leopards}} in the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division.
=Kings=
It was then announced that he moved to the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} for the 2011 Currie Cup First Division season.{{cite web | work=epherald.co.za | url=http://www.epherald.co.za/sport/article.aspx?id=622240 | title=EP Kings beef up ranks for new season | access-date=3 January 2011}} He remained with them for three seasons, making 36 appearances for them in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions in 2011 and 2012. He reached the top ten in the scoring charts for the 2011 Currie Cup First Division, scoring ten tries and two conversions during the season.{{SA Rugby Top Scorers | id=810 | comp=2011 ABSA Currie Cup First Div | date=5 May 2016}} He firmly established himself as the first choice full-back, starting fifteen of their sixteen matches in the 2012 Currie Cup First Division season and also started their match in the First Division final, which the Kings won 26–25 to win their second First Division title in three seasons.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=105591 | homeid=11761 | awayid=11741 | leagueid=1241 | hometeam=Eastern Province Kings | homescore=26 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=Ford Pumas | matchdate=13 October 2012 | date=2 December 2016}}
In 2013, Marais was also named in the {{Rut|Southern Kings}} squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season. He made his Super Rugby debut for the Kings in their first ever Super Rugby match, a 22–10 victory over Australian side the {{Rut|Force}} in Port Elizabeth.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=113661 | homeid=15231 | awayid=15111 | leagueid=1491 | hometeam=Southern Kings | homescore=22 | awayscore=10 | awayteam=Force | matchdate=23 February 2013 | date=2 December 2016}} After starting the first three matches of the season, he missed the next seven due to a knee injury.{{cite web | url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2013/03/21/SK/22/mgkings-B1-01-SK.html | title=SWD-held pak dalk Crusaders | publisher=Die Burger | work=Media24 | date=21 March 2013 | access-date=15 November 2013 | language=af}} He returned to make a further five appearances, as well as playing in both legs of the Kings' Super Rugby promotion/relegation play-offs against the {{Rut|Lions}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112664 | homeid=15674 | awayid=15664 | leagueid=1514 | hometeam=Southern Kings | homescore=19 | awayscore=26 | awayteam=MTN Lions | matchdate=26 July 2013 | date=2 December 2016}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112674 | homeid=15664 | awayid=15674 | leagueid=1514 | hometeam=MTN Lions | homescore=18 | awayscore=23 | awayteam=Southern Kings | matchdate=3 August 2013 | date=2 December 2016}} which saw the Kings lose their Super Rugby status.
=Sharks=
Marais joined the exodus of players leaving the Kings after their defeat to the {{Rut|Lions}}, joining Durban-based side the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season.{{cite web | url=http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/story/0,25883,3551_8858207,00.html | title=Sharks snap up Kings' Marais | work=Planet Rugby | date=6 August 2013 | access-date=9 August 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130809123520/http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/story/0,25883,3551_8858207,00.html | archive-date=9 August 2013 | df=dmy-all }} He made his debut in their second match of the season against the {{Rut|Golden Lions}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=106964 | homeid=12644 | awayid=12634 | leagueid=1294 | hometeam=The Sharks | homescore=33 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=MTN Golden Lions | matchdate=16 August 2013 | date=2 December 2016}} and immediately established himself as their first-choice full-back, starting all the remaining games of the season, scoring four tries. He was also in the starting fifteen for the Currie Cup final, which the Sharks won 33–19 against {{Rut|Western Province}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=107254 | homeid=12614 | awayid=12644 | leagueid=1294 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=19 | awayscore=33 | awayteam=The Sharks | matchdate=26 October 2013 | date=2 December 2016}}
Marais was included in the {{Rut|Sharks}} squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season{{cite press release | url=http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/index.php/component/articles/?view=article&id=2310854 | title=Sharks 2014 squad | publisher=Sharks | date=11 February 2014 | access-date=11 February 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606082653/http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/index.php/component/articles/?view=article&id=2310854 | archive-date=6 June 2015 | df=dmy-all }} and made his Sharks Super Rugby debut in a 31–16 victory against the {{Rut|Bulls}} in Durban.{{cite web | url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/match-centre/?season=2014&competition=205&match=514012 | title=Match Centre: Sharks v Bulls | publisher=SANZAR | date=15 February 2014 | access-date=15 February 2014}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=113684 | homeid=16164 | awayid=16174 | leagueid=1574 | hometeam=Cell C Sharks | homescore=31 | awayscore=16 | awayteam=Vodacom Bulls | matchdate=15 February 2014 | date=2 December 2016}}
=Return to Kings=
At the end of 2015, Marais was one of a number of players that joined the Southern Kings prior to their return to Super Rugby for the 2016 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.rugby15.co.za/ep-rugby-statement-2/ | title=EP Rugby Statement | work=Rugby15 | date=16 November 2015 | access-date=16 November 2015 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117064123/http://www.rugby15.co.za/2015/11/ep-rugby-statement-2/ | archive-date=17 November 2015 | df=dmy-all }} However, the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} – the provincial union that was supposed to administer the Super Rugby team – suffered serious financial problems and the South African Rugby Union stepped in to assist the Super Rugby franchise;{{cite press release | url=http://www.sarugby.net/news/24397?view=news&leagueId=2714 | title=SARU steps in to assist the Southern Kings Super Rugby franchise | publisher=South African Rugby Union | date=17 November 2015 | access-date=17 November 2015}} however, Marais was not one of the players contracted by SARU to represent the Southern Kings.{{cite press release | url=http://www.sarugby.net/news/24545?view=news&leagueId=2714 | title=Southern Kings announce first signings | publisher=South African Rugby Union | date=13 December 2015 | access-date=13 December 2015}} After being unpaid for several months, he was one of eighteen players involved in submitting an application to get Eastern Province Rugby liquidated in an attempt to recoup unpaid salary payments.{{cite web | url=http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/plight-of-ep-players-revealed | title=Plight of EP players revealed | work=SA Rugby Magazine | date=22 February 2016 | access-date=1 March 2016}}
=Bulls=
Shortly after the 2016 Super Rugby season kicked off, Marais joined the Pretoria-based {{Rut|Bulls}} on a two-month trial basis.{{cite press release | url=http://thebulls.co.za/news/2016/03/02/paige | title=Three stars extend Vodacom Bulls contracts | publisher=Bulls | date=2 March 2016 | access-date=2 March 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307141839/http://thebulls.co.za/news/2016/03/02/paige | archive-date=7 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }} He made his Bulls debut by replacing Burger Odendaal during their 23–18 win against the {{Rut|Cheetahs}} in Round Six.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=154914 | homeid=29934 | awayid=29914 | leagueid=2714 | hometeam=Vodacom Bulls | homescore=23 | awayscore=18 | awayteam=Toyota Cheetahs | matchdate=2 April 2016 | date=6 April 2016}} He was named in their starting line-up for their next match, against Marais' former side the {{Rut|Southern Kings}} in Port Elizabeth.{{cite press release | url=http://thebulls.co.za/news/2016/04/06/team-announce-kings | title=Marais to start for Vodacom Bulls | publisher=Bulls | date=6 April 2016 | access-date=6 April 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406130227/http://thebulls.co.za/news/2016/04/06/team-announce-kings | archive-date=6 April 2016}}
Stormers / Western Province
At the start of 2017, Marais moved to Cape Town, where he joined the {{Rut|Stormers}} Super Rugby team and the {{Rut|Western Province}} Currie Cup team.{{cite press release | url=http://thestormers.com/five-new-faces-at-dhl-newlands-this-season | title=Five new faces at DHL Newlands this season | publisher=Stormers | date=13 January 2017 | access-date=13 January 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113110547/http://thestormers.com/five-new-faces-at-dhl-newlands-this-season | archive-date=13 January 2017 | url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Canon Eagles squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marais, SP}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Eastern Province Elephants players
Category:Southern Kings players
Category:Sharks (rugby union) players
Category:Rugby union fullbacks
Category:Alumni of Paarl Boys' High School
Category:Sharks (Currie Cup) players
Category:Bulls (rugby union) players
Category:Western Province (rugby union) players
Category:Yokohama Canon Eagles players
Category:Rugby union players from Cape Town
Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in Japan