Marnitz Louis Boshoff (born 11 January 1989) is a South African rugby union player who usually plays as a fly-half or fullback. He plays for the Bulls in Super Rugby, the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Blue Bulls XV in the Rugby Challenge, having previously played for South African provincial sides Griquas, the Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup and for Super Rugby side the Lions. He also had a short stint with Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14.[1]

Marnitz Boshoff
Full nameMarnitz Louis Boshoff
Date of birth (1989-01-11) 11 January 1989 (age 35)
Place of birthNelspruit, South Africa
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10+12 in)
Weight87 kg (13 st 10 lb; 192 lb)
SchoolNelspruit Hoërskool
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half / Fullback
Current team Bulls / Blue Bulls / Blue Bulls XV
Youth career
2005–2007 Pumas
2007–2010 Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009, 2011 UP Tuks 7 (28)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009–2011 Blue Bulls 24 (130)
2012 Griquas 13 (37)
2013–2016 Golden Lions XV 14 (191)
2013–2016 Golden Lions 32 (385)
2013–2016 Lions 30 (235)
2016–2017 Connacht 3 (5)
2017–present Blue Bulls 11 (71)
2018–present Bulls 3 (11)
2019–present Blue Bulls XV 3 (37)
Correct as of 25 August 2019
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014 South Africa 1 (2)
2014 Barbarians 2 (19)
Correct as of 13 April 2018

He played in a single test match for South Africa in 2014 and also featured for invitational side the Barbarians.

Rugby career

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Youth rugby

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Born in Nelspruit in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, Boshoff is a graduate of Nelspruit Hoërskool and attended the University of Pretoria. He was part of the youth team of Nelspruit-based side the Pumas from 2005 to 2007, before joining the academy of the Pretoria-based Blue Bulls.

Blue Bulls

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Boshoff first played at provincial level for the Blue Bulls, playing for them from 2009 to 2011 after coming through their youth side. During his time with the Blue Bulls, he played 24 times, scoring 130 points.

Griquas

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In 2012, Boshoff moved to the Griquas. He spent one year there, making 13 appearances and scoring 37 points.

Golden Lions / Lions

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He joined the Golden Lions for 2013.[2]

He played in both legs of the Lions' promotion/relegation matches after the 2013 Super Rugby season,[3][4] which saw the Lions regain their spot in Super Rugby.

After a season that saw him finish as the top points scorer for the Golden Lions in the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division, he was then included in the Lions squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season[5] and made his Super Rugby debut in a man-of-the-match performance in the opening match of the season, scoring all the Lions' points – including a last-minute drop goal – to help them beat the Cheetahs 21–20 in Bloemfontein.[6][7]

He was the Golden Lions' first-choice fly-half during the 2014 and 2015 Currie Cup competitions, with the Lions reaching the final both times and winning the trophy in 2015, with Boshoff again finishing as the top points scorer.

Connacht

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In March 2016, Irish Pro12 side Connacht announced that they secured Boshoff's services on a two-year contract.[8]

Representative rugby

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In May 2014, Boshoff was one of eight uncapped players that were called up to a Springbok training camp prior to the 2014 mid-year rugby union tests.[9] Although not initially selected in the 36-man squad,[10] Boshoff was called up to the squad when Damian de Allende suffered a knee ligament injury.[11] He played off the bench against Scotland and scored his first points by converting a try.[citation needed]

He was chosen to represent the Barbarians to face Australia on 1 November 2014 at Twickenham. He came off the bench and scored two conversions and a try, but the Barbarians lost 36–40.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Boshoff granted early release by Connacht" (Press release). Planet Rugby. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Lions announce more signings". Supersport. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  3. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Southern Kings 19–26 MTN Lions". South African Rugby Union. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  4. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Lions 18–23 Southern Kings". South African Rugby Union. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  5. ^ "2014 Lions Super Rugby squad" (Press release). Lions. 11 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Match Centre: Cheetahs v Lions". SANZAR. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  7. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Cheetahs 20–21 Lions". South African Rugby Union. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Connacht sign Springbok outhalf Marnitz Boshoff" (Press release). Connacht Rugby. 14 March 2016. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Springbok training squad for Durban camp named". South African Rugby Union. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Seven uncapped players in Springbok squad". South African Rugby Union. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  11. ^ "Springboks suffer De Allende injury setback". South African Rugby Union. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
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