MJ Mentz explained

MJ Mentz
Full Name:Marthinus Johannes Mentz
Birth Date:21 July 1982
Birth Place:Ermelo, South Africa
School:Hoërskool Ermelo
University:North-West University, Potchefstroom
Position:Winger / Fullback / Fly-half
Youthyears1:2002
Years1:2002–2004
Apps1:27
Points1:45
Years2:2005–2008
Apps2:66
Points2:140
Years3:2009–2012
Apps3:38
Points3:40
Repyears1:1998
Repteam1:South Africa U16
Repyears2:2000
Repyears3:2003
Repteam3:South Africa U21
Repsevensyears1:2007–2010
Repsevensteam1:South Africa Sevens
Repsevenscomp1:18
Coachyears1:2013–2014
Coachteams1: (assistant)
Coachyears2:2015–2016
Coachteams2: (head coach)
Coachyears3:2017–present
Coachteams3: (backline coach)
Clubupdate:28 October 2015
Repupdate:28 October 2015

Marthinus Johannes "M.J." Mentz (born 21 July 1982, Ermelo, South Africa) is a former South African rugby union player and currently the backline coach of Currie Cup side the . He regularly played as a winger or a fullback.

Career

He played for the, and in domestic South African rugby during his playing career which spanned 2002 to 2012. He also represented South Africa at Under-16, Under-18 and Under-21 level and represented the South African Sevens in 18 tournaments between 2006 and 2011, including the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India where his team won the bronze medal.

He wrapped up his playing career at the Pumas, retiring after the 2012 season. The Pumas appointed him as a coach and assistant to head coach Jimmy Stonehouse. When Stonehouse left to join Japanese Top League side Toshiba Brave Lupus at the start of 2015, Mentz was named as his successor.[1] He guided the Pumas to their first ever Vodacom Cup title in 2015, beating 24–7 in the final, and to sixth position in the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division.

On 2 November 2015, the Pumas announced that Mentz was reappointed as head coach until the end of 2017.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MJ Mentz neem leisels oor by Jimmy Stonehouse . Netwerk24 . 3 February 2015 . 28 October 2015 . Afrikaans.
  2. Web site: Steval Pumas 2016 signings . Rugby15 . 2 November 2015 . 2 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170205181316/http://www.rugby15.co.za/2015/11/steval-pumas-2016-signings/ . 5 February 2017 . live .