Fleet-footed Pumas represents SA in Argentina
They managed to clinch three wins, but unfortunately suffered a 19-14 defeat in the final.
Steval Pumas utility back, Hoffmann Maritz (26) recently returned from South America with the SA 7s Academy team.
Maritz, the Bethlehem-born rugby fanatic, was selected as a member of the squad to play against various teams in Argentina and Chile, not only to gain experience, but to experience international exposure.
“You are basically groomed for the larger games,” said Maritz. In Argentina, the academy measured forces with their world series team. They managed to clinch three wins, but unfortunately suffered a 19-14 defeat in the final.
Next stop was Chile. “Never underestimate the smaller countries,” he said. Even though they won all their games on the first day, they suffered another defeat to Brazil in the quarter-finals, securing them a third place in the series.
“Since 7s rugby became an Olympic sport, the competition has become all the more fierce.”
Maritz is incredibly grateful that he had this opportunity to visit a beautiful continent like South America.
“To catch up and play with friends I haven’t seen in six years was definitely a highlight,” he said.
Maritz played for the Blitzboks in 2010, and considers this the highlight of his rugby career.
A knee injury put him out of the picture and he has not been selected since.
He attributed most of his success to the unique matric group he was part of at Hoërskool Voortrekker, that produced rugby stars like current Griquas captain, RJ Liebenberg and Griquas prop, Ewald van der Westhuizen.
He started his career playing at youth level for the Griffons at the 2007 u/18 Craven Week and at u/19 level the following season. He then spent the next two years playing for Free State Cheetahs at u/19 and u/21 level.
In 2011 he had a short spell with the Golden Lions, where he made his first class debut in a 2011 Vodacom Cup match against Western Province, which ended in an 18-18 draw. For the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division season, he joined the Leopards, where he quickly established himself as a first-team regular.
He joined the Steval Pumas in 2015.
