Rugby player
Bandise Grey Maku (born 24 July 1986) is a former South African professional rugby union player, whose usual position was hooker. He played first class rugby between 2006 and 2016 and also played in a single test match for South Africa in 2010, as well as in three tour matches in 2009 and 2010. He played Super Rugby for the Bulls from 2008 to 2010 and from 2014 to 2016, for the Lions in 2011 and for the Southern Kings in 2013. He played domestic Currie Cup rugby for the Blue Bulls from 2006 to 2010 and from 2013 to 2016 and for the Golden Lions in 2011 and 2012.[1]
Career
Youth
He represented his local team Border Bulldogs at the 2004 Craven Week before moving to the Blue Bulls, for whom he played rugby at youth level.
Bulls
He was first named in a Blue Bulls squad during the 2006 Vodacom Cup. He made his Currie Cup debut the following season, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute against Boland Cavaliers.[2] A year later, he was also included in Bulls squad for the 2008 Super 14 season, making his debut in Rotorua against the Chiefs.[3]
Lions
He joined the Lions for the 2011 Super Rugby season, where he started in 14 games.[4] He also played Currie Cup rugby for the Golden Lions, where he was also a member of the starting line-up which defeated the Sharks 42–16 to win the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division. He was injured for the entire 2012 Super Rugby season, but did play some Currie Cup rugby at the end of the season.
Kings
He then joined the Southern Kings for the 2013 Super Rugby season.[5]
Return to Bulls
After the 2013 Super Rugby season, he rejoined former team the Blue Bulls, signing a contract at the team until October 2016.[6]
South Africa national team
His first tour of duty for his country was with the Springboks to France, Italy, Ireland & England in late 2009, where he played in tour matches against the Leicester Tigers[7] and Saracens.[8] He earned his first test cap for his country playing against Italy during an incoming tour in 2010.[9] In 2010, Maku was again called up for duty with the Springboks in a November tour of Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England. His call came two matches into the tour on 18 November 2010, after a controversial incident in which two other Springbok players tested positive for a banned substance.
Honours
References