Buks Marais
Encyclopedia
Franswa Pierre "Buks" Marais (13 December 1927 - 12 December 1996) was a South Africa
n rugby union
wing. Ochse played club rugby for Paarl and provincial rugby for Boland
. Marais was capped seven time for the South African
national team (springboks) and was a member of the 1951-52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France.
, South Africa
in 1927. He was educated at Paarl Training College, and was a farm implement salesman by profession. He was knicknamed Buks, which roughly translates to 'short but powerful', though Marias was just under 5 feet 10 inches.
for Boland, he was brought into the first Test against the New Zealand 'All Blacks'. This was Marais' first cap for South Africa, as was the case for the rest of the team, this being the first South African international for nine years. South Africa won 15-11. Marias was reselected for the second Test, played at Johannesburg. The game ended in another Springboks victory, though Marias, and his opposite wing Cecil Moss
both failed to score; as had happened in the first Test. Marais was replaced for the third and fourth Tests.
in the encounter with a joint Pontypool
/Newbridge
side the very next game.
Marais added to his tally when he scored another try in the win over North West Counties, but then picked up an injury that kept out of the next five matches. By the time he recovered there was just one game before the first international of the tour, another joint Welsh game, this time to Neath
/Aberafon
. Marais was selected, and proved himself fit with three tries in a 22-0 win. The next game was the First tour international, against Scotland
at Murrayfield. Chum Ochse
was the press favoutite to take the wing role, but the management made the surprise choice of choosing Marais due to Ochse's poor defensive showings in prior matches. The Scotland game became a rout, with South Africa winning 44-0, though none of the nine South Africa tries were scored from either of the wings.
Marais failed to be chosen for any of the final four internationals, with Ochse being preferred. Marais continued to play in the club and regional games, scoring ten tries in total by the end of the tour. He also played in the encounter between South Africa and the Barbarians
on 26 January 1952.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
wing. Ochse played club rugby for Paarl and provincial rugby for Boland
Boland Cavaliers
The Boland Cavaliers , are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
. Marais was capped seven time for the South African
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
national team (springboks) and was a member of the 1951-52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France.
Personal career
Marais was born in WorcesterWorcester, Western Cape
Worcester is a town in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is located 120 km north-east of Cape Town on the N1 highway north to Johannesburg....
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1927. He was educated at Paarl Training College, and was a farm implement salesman by profession. He was knicknamed Buks, which roughly translates to 'short but powerful', though Marias was just under 5 feet 10 inches.
Early career
Marais played rugby for Paarl RFC, from Paarl Training College. In 1948 he was selected for province team Boland, and the next year he attended the Springbok trials in Pretoria, ready for the 1949 touring New Zealand team. He failed to make much of an impression as he was not shorlisted after the initial Trials. Despite this, after impressing in the regional game at WellingtonWellington, Western Cape
Wellington is a town in the Western Cape Winelands 45 minutes from Cape Town, in South Africa with a population of approximately 58,300. Wellington's economy is centered around agriculture such as wine, table grapes, citrus fruit and a brandy industry. The town is located 75 km north-east of...
for Boland, he was brought into the first Test against the New Zealand 'All Blacks'. This was Marais' first cap for South Africa, as was the case for the rest of the team, this being the first South African international for nine years. South Africa won 15-11. Marias was reselected for the second Test, played at Johannesburg. The game ended in another Springboks victory, though Marias, and his opposite wing Cecil Moss
Cecil Moss
Cecil Moss was a South African rugby union player and coach. He was professionally a physician. Moss was Jewish. He and his wife had two children....
both failed to score; as had happened in the first Test. Marais was replaced for the third and fourth Tests.
1951 tour
In 1951 Marais was selected for the Fourth South African tour of Great Britain, which also took in matches in Ireland and France. Although one of the few tour members with international experience Marais was not seen as a first choice for the wing position. He played 14 games in total during the tour, but only one of the internationals. The team managers decided to place the four wing players on a rotation system, which saw Marais play in three of the first six matches. His first game of the tour was against a joint South West Counties team on the 15 October, this was followed with his first score of the tour when he scored a tryTry
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
in the encounter with a joint Pontypool
Pontypool RFC
Pontypool Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in the town of Pontypool. Pontypool RFC has a long history within Welsh rugby and is one of the most notable clubs, being present at the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1881, but disbanding before the turn of the 19th century...
/Newbridge
Newbridge RFC
Newbridge RFC are a Welsh rugby union club based in Newbridge, Caerphilly in South Wales. Newbridge RFC was formed in 1888 and gained admission to the WRU in 1911...
side the very next game.
Marais added to his tally when he scored another try in the win over North West Counties, but then picked up an injury that kept out of the next five matches. By the time he recovered there was just one game before the first international of the tour, another joint Welsh game, this time to Neath
Neath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
/Aberafon
Aberavon RFC
Aberavon RFC is a rugby union club located in the Welsh town of Port Talbot, although the club's name refers to the older settlement of Aberavon which lies on the western side of the town...
. Marais was selected, and proved himself fit with three tries in a 22-0 win. The next game was the First tour international, against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
at Murrayfield. Chum Ochse
Chum Ochse
Johannes Karl "Chum" Ochse was a South African rugby union wing. Ochse played club rugby for Paarl and provincial rugby for Western Province. Ochse was capped seven time for the South African national team and was a member of the 1951-52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France...
was the press favoutite to take the wing role, but the management made the surprise choice of choosing Marais due to Ochse's poor defensive showings in prior matches. The Scotland game became a rout, with South Africa winning 44-0, though none of the nine South Africa tries were scored from either of the wings.
Marais failed to be chosen for any of the final four internationals, with Ochse being preferred. Marais continued to play in the club and regional games, scoring ten tries in total by the end of the tour. He also played in the encounter between South Africa and the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
on 26 January 1952.