Bokdle #13: 14 Oct 2026

The mystery green and gold player on 14 Oct 2026 was Marcell Coetzee: Test player #831 · Flanker · 31 caps · 6 tries · School: Port Natal High School.

Marcell Coetzee is a powerful loose forward who might have won many more caps, if not for knee injuries, and who became one of the outstanding players in the United Rugby Championship during his time in Belfast. Born in Potchefstroom in May 1991, he went to Port Natal High School in Durban and came through the Sharks' youth system.

Sharks and Springboks

He played for the Sharks XV in the Vodacom Cup and in the Currie Cup between 2011 and 2013, but his rise was quick. Coetzee made his Super Rugby debut for the Sharks against the Brumbies in May 2011, aged 19. A year later he was a Springbok: Heyneke Meyer gave him his Test debut against England in Durban in June 2012, and he scored his first Test try against Argentina in Cape Town that August. In 2014 he had his best scoring season in green, including two tries against Scotland in Port Elizabeth.

He finished with 31 Test caps and six Test tries, but never played at a World Cup.

Ulster

In 2016 he joined Ulster on a three-year deal, but recurring knee problems limited him in his first two seasons. When he was fit, he was outstanding: in 2020–21 he was Ulster's joint top try-scorer, the competition's top try-scorer, and was voted Pro14 Players' Player of the Season. He was named in the competition's Dream Team in 2020–21 and again in 2021–22.

Home to Pretoria

Coetzee joined the Bulls in 2021, won the Currie Cup with them that year, and reached the 2021–22 URC final. He also played in Japan, with Honda Heat (2015–16) and the Kobelco Kobe Steelers (2022–23).

Test record

From bokhist.com's Test-by-Test list:

• Springbok number: 831
• Debut: 9 June 2012, aged 21, at flanker against England at Kings Park, Durban (won 22–17)
• Last Test: 9 July 2022, aged 31, at flanker against Wales at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein (lost 12–13)
• Tests: 31: 21 starts and 10 off the bench
• Results: 19 wins, 2 draws and 10 losses, a winning rate of 61%
• Starts by position: flanker 20, number 8 1
• Most often played against: Argentina (6 Tests)

Did you know?

• His ball-handling and offloading were often compared with Sonny Bill Williams'.
• He has played professionally in South Africa, Ireland and Japan.

Sources: bokhist.com, en.wikipedia.org

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