Youth and Varsity rugby Despite not representing at secondary school level while a scholar at
Paarl Boys' High School, Marais were included in the squad for the 2007 Under-19 Provincial Championship after he moved to
Bloemfontein to enroll at the
University of the Free State. He also represented his university side in the
Varsity Cup competition, playing for them in five consecutive seasons between
2009 and
2013, amassing 26 appearances and scoring three tries.
Free State Cheetahs His first class debut came during the
2010 Vodacom Cup competition. He missed the early rounds of the competition due to his involvement in the
2010 Varsity Cup competition, but made his debut by starting in their
Round 6 loss against
Argentinean invitational side the in
Parow, Cape Town. He remained in the starting line-up for the remainder of the competition and helped the Free State XV reach the final, where they lost 31–29 to the . He remained involved in the Free State's
Vodacom Cup campaigns in
2011,
2012 and
2013, making a total of fifteen appearances. However, he was never included in a
Currie Cup squad during his time in
Bloemfontein.
Griffons His lack of involvement in
Currie Cup action for the saw Marais have two short spells at near-neighbours the . He made his Currie Cup debut for them during the
2012 Currie Cup First Division in their match against the , marking the occasion by scoring his first ever senior try early in the second half. He made five appearances in the competition for the
Welkom-based side and returned for one match in
2013, coming on as a substitute against the in
Nelspruit.
Golden Lions / Lions Marais moved to
Johannesburg to join the for the 2014 season. He was a regular in their squad for the
2014 Vodacom Cup competition, playing in all ten of their matches during the competition, starting eight of those. He was once again involved in a Vodacom Cup final, but once again ended up on the losing side, as the Golden Lions lost 30–6 to in
Kimberley. Marais also made his
Super Rugby debut during the
2014 season, coming on as a substitute in their match against the after being a late inclusion on the bench following
Julian Redelinghuys' withdrawal through injury.
Eastern Province Kings In July 2014, it was announced that Marais would join the prior to the
2014 Currie Cup Premier Division competition. He signed a deal that would see him play for the
Port Elizabeth-based side until the end of 2016. ==References==