Toyota Cheetah prop, Charles Marais has announced that he will be hanging up his boots following a professional rugby career of 10 years.

He has been medically advised to stop playing due to a neck injury. 

Charles Marais was included in the Free State U19 squad for the 2007 season and was part of the Free State u.21 team who won the competition in 2009. 

2010 to 2013. He represented the Shimlas in the Varsity Cup competition, playing for them between 2009 and 2013. 

He made his debut for the Free State team against the Argentinean Pampas XV and remained involved in the Cheetahs' Vodacom Cup campaigns from 2010 - ‘13 (15 appearances).

Marais had two short spells at the Griffons and made his Currie Cup debut during the 2012 Currie Cup First Division against the Falcons, marking the occasion by scoring his first-ever senior try.

In 2014 Charles made his Super Rugby debut for the Lions during the 2014 season against the Bulls. He joined the EP Kings in July 2014 before the Currie Cup competition and playing in 7 matches for the team. 

Marais made his Currie Cup debut for the Toyota Cheetahs in 2016 and played all 10 games in the 2016 Currie Cup, including the home final against the Blue Bulls. He started from the bench in the 2019 Currie Cup final when the Toyota Cheetahs beat the Lions in the final. 

The 32 years old stalwart retires from rugby 5 appearances short of 100 Cheetahs caps which includes 28 Super Rugby-, 43 PRO14- and 20 Currie Cup matches. 

"I have been blessed to play this game for so long and could never have imagined I would be a professional for 10 years and travel to so many wonderful places around the world,” said Charles Marais.

"Charles been a great servant to the Toyota Cheetahs and has had a major influence on the entire squad. We now wish him and his family all the very best for the future," said Coach Hawies Fourie.