Marco Kotze

Marco Kotze (born 25 August 1986) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with French Fédérale 1 side Marmande. He originally played as a winger, but has been subsequently converted to a loose-forward or a lock.

Kotze went to Laerskool Randhart in Alberton, in a team that won the Super Twelve national competition for primary schools, playing alongside future Lions Super Rugby player Derick Minnie. Kotze earned a call-up to the Golden Lions' Under-13 Craven Week squad.

He went to Hoërskool Marais Viljoen in Alberton, where he appeared mainly as a winger and also earned a selection to the Golden Lions' Craven Week team in 2004.

He progressed through the different age groups at the Golden Lions, playing at Under-19 level in 2005 and at Under-21 level in 2006. He also played for university side UJ during this time, representing them at the National Club Championships in 2006.

He made his first class debut for the Golden Lions in the 2006 Vodacom Cup, coming on as a first-half substitute in their match against the Western Province in Cape Town. He started his first match a week later, with the Golden Lions losing 29–35 to near rivals Pumas in Witbank. One more start followed against the Falcons, as well as a further two appearances off the bench.

In 2007, Kotze made the move to Durban to join the Sharks. He played for the Sharks U21 side during the 2007 season, but was never involved at first team level. During this time, he also played club rugby for Crusaders.

He moved back to Gauteng in 2010 by joining the Falcons. By now, he was fully transformed into a loose forward and he made six appearances for the Falcons during the 2010 Vodacom Cup. He also scored his first try in first class rugby during this competition, scoring two tries in the Falcons' 33–65 defeat to Namibian side Welwitschias. He made his Currie Cup debut in the latter half of 2010, starting their 2010 Currie Cup First Division match against the Boland Cavaliers in Kempton Park. He made one more Currie Cup appearance, against the Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth.

In 2011, he was named as a member of the Falcons' leadership group for the 2011 Vodacom Cup season, making six appearances in the competition. He played in a further eight matches in the 2011 Currie Cup First Division competition, where he scored his first Currie Cup try in their match against the Border Bulldogs in East London.