Mark Pretorius (rugby union)

Mark Pretorius
Date of birth (1992-06-09) 9 June 1992 (age 32)
Place of birthNelspruit, South Africa
Height1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Weight102 kg (16 st 1 lb; 225 lb)
SchoolHoërskool Nelspruit
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Current team Pumas
Youth career
2008–2010 Pumas
2011–2013 Golden Lions
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014 UJ 1 (0)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2015 Golden Lions XV 10 (5)
2015 Golden Lions 2 (0)
2014–2015 Lions 2 (0)
2016 SWD Eagles 16 (50)
2017 Pumas 7 (15)
Correct as of 18 May 2018
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 South Africa Under-20 4 (5)
Correct as of 18 May 2014

Mark Pretorius (born 9 June 1992 in Nelspruit) is a South African rugby union player who most recently played for the Pumas.[1] His regular position is hooker.

Career

Youth and Varsity rugby

Pretorius appeared for the Pumas at several youth tournaments, including the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2008 and the Under-18 Craven Week tournament in both 2009 and 2010.

He then moved to Johannesburg-based side the Golden Lions in 2011, where he participated in the 2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship tournament. He also represented them at Under-21 level in 2012 and 2013.

He also made one appearance for UJ in the 2014 Varsity Cup, against UFS Shimlas in Bloemfontein.[2]

Senior career

Golden Lions / Lions

His senior debut came for the Golden Lions in the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, coming on as a second-half substitute in the Golden Lions' all-time record victory, a 161–3 win over the Limpopo Blue Bulls.[3]

Two more Vodacom Cup appearances followed in 2014, before injuries to Robbie Coetzee and Malcolm Marx led to Pretorius' inclusion on the bench for their 2014 Super Rugby match against the Reds,[4] with Pretorius appearing in the 59th minute for his Super Rugby debut.[5]

SWD Eagles

After 3 seasons in Johannesburg, Pretorius moved to George to join the SWD Eagles prior to the 2016 season.[6]

Representative rugby

2012 IRB Junior World Championship

In 2012, he was selected in the South Africa Under-20 squad for their victorious 2012 IRB Junior World Championship campaign. In the group stages, he started in their opening match against Ireland,[7] he was an unused substitute against Italy[8] and came on during their match against England.[9] He was promoted to the starting line-up for the semi-final match against Argentina and responded by scoring a 36th minute try,[10] securing a starting position for the final against New Zealand, helping them clinch the title with a 22–16 win.[11]

References

  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Mark Pretorius". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UFS SHIMLAS 52–13 FNB UJ". South African Rugby Union. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  3. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 161–3 Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Jantjies dropped from Lions match-day squad". Sport Live. 20 March 2014. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  5. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Lions 23–20 Reds". South African Rugby Union. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Pretorius vlieg na Arende". Son (in Afrikaans). 7 December 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Match Details: South Africa v Ireland". IRB. 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Match Details: South Africa v Italy". IRB. 8 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  9. ^ "Match Details: South Africa v England". IRB. 12 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  10. ^ "Match Details: Argentina v South Africa". IRB. 17 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  11. ^ "Match Details: South Africa v New Zealand". IRB. 22 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.