Leaving too soon

Like Warren Britz, who returned to South Africa from Newcastle in the summer, Marius Hurter will make the trip after this Monday’s match in Leeds. Already tributes are flying in amid fears of what our scrum will do without him, so let’s take a look back at the big man’s career on Tyneside.

Also like Britz, Hurter was brought to Newcastle at a time when we were desperate, not for a few quality players, but for a specialist and talented tight-head prop to take over from the injured Paul Van-Zandvliet. It was the autumn of 1998, and our title-winning squad had been hit strongly by Tank’s injury and was being out-muscled in the front row, despite attempts to plug the gap with international loose-heads Nick Popplewell and George Graham. However, once the signing of the 1995 World Cup winner, who had been noticed by Rob Andrew whilst playing for a World XV against Newcastle in May 1998, was announced, Falcons waited to see how we would cope until Hurter’s arrival from the Currie Cup in November.

The effect from Hurter’s debut against Harlequins at the Stoop was immediately noticeable, as we began to control the forward battles again in the tight Premiership matches against the likes of Northampton and Sale. He was a major driving force in getting the ailing squad to Twickenham in May 1999, and one of the senior men who assisted our up and coming youngsters over the last few years. In the spring of 2000 Marius was voted Falcon of the Year by the Supporters’ Club for his grafting and smashing qualities, having scored two tries during the year against Gloucester and Dunvant, which helped us escape relegation.

As the team rose again in 2000-01, Hurter won his first Cup winner’s medal in England as part of the team that dramatically won the tournament in February 2001 against Harlequins. Cementing his place at tight-head as Micky Ward, Ian Peel and George Graham battled for the other prop position, Hurter became a favourite amongst Newcastle fans, yet went unnoticed at all times until he was absent, when we wondered how on Earth we could cope.

This year Marius helped the Falcons back to Twickenham to win the Cup for the second time in the professional era, coming on as a replacement in the Final. This season hasn’t been too kind to our big South African, injury and selection restricting him to only seven starts in sixteen matches. At the beginning of December, as he returned from injury, we all wondered why he remained a replacement, until an announcement was made that the festive weekend would see his final Newcastle appearance.

Marius Hurter will be missed by all Falcons because he is our best scrummager, a driving force on the field, and a man who came over to play in a foreign country and has racked up over 150 appearances, though never sought the limelight and attention. A true role model, and a legendary Falcon who will never be forgotten as the club’s greatest ever tight-head. Thanks for everything.

Statistics (up to and including 19/12/04)

League appearances: 113 (11 as replacement)

League tries: 3

Total appearances: 160 (17 as replacement)

Total tries: 5

Debut: v Harlequins (A) 7/11/1998

Last match: v Saracens (A) Cup 19/12/2004 (presuming no involvement on Monday)

Honours: English Cup winner 2001, 2004

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What to say to such a man, good luck best wishes, we'll miss you in many ways.
We'll be watching and cheering you on as you play in SA. If you want to bring them back over here on tour we'd love to see you and would welcome them!
All the best for rugby, law and fatherhood! (OnceANumber7)

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Good luck in everything that you do Marius - you'll be missed! Thanks for everything and we'll all be following your career in South Africa! xx (FalconInWales)

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Marius...

Thanks for lending your bulk to the pack for the last 6 years.
Treasure the cup winners medals and many memory of the special times in the North East of England
Keep the hips down and that left shoulder dug in
Show then in SA you are a wild cat not a pussy cat
Best wishes to you and your family for the future
You will always win a place in my Falcons all time XV
Onwards and upwards (Tightheed)

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Good luck, Marius. You've made a huge positive difference to this team. We all knew that you would always be in the thick of things, giving of your best whether in set piece or in the loose. Best wishes to you and your family in the future both on and off the field. You know you'd be welcomed back any time, especially if you came back as a player! KP will not be the same without the big man with the head band. You'll be missed. (Falconfan)

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I'd just like to say a big thank you to Marius for the service he has give us in the past six seasons. His friendly and open demeanour will be missed. Ever since I had the fortune to meet him while he was popping in to Tesco's for a few bits I have had nothing but respect for the man, and when he made the gesture of providing me with tickets for a game in the 1999 season it ensured I would always look upon him as a true ambassador for our sport and for the his homeland.

All the best with the Cats, and with your career in law after you finish playing.

Thanks for the memories (Geordie Monkey)

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A true professional who's given us sterling service over the past six years. And a thoroughly nice bloke as well.

Best wishes for the future, Marius. You'll be a big miss. (Happy Hooker)

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As well as a man dedicated to his sport, wanting no more than to scrum better & better each day, he is also that rare type of person who is genuinely contented with his lot. I cannot recall ever having seen Marius not smiling when off the pitch. (Monkey1)

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Good luck, best wishes. See you in the Super 12! (Dr. B)

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Good luck for the future Marius. I hope you and your wife have enjoyed your time with us in England and wish you both every happiness as parents. If you get to drink in the Villagers bar you should see your picture alongside Britzie's and Mark Andrews' with a Clems calendar in your hands ... oh the RWC as well. You nonoured us and the game with your presence. Thanks mate. (Sheeny)

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Thanks for all you have done for the Falcons Marius. I wish you and your family all the best for the future. A top quality player. (Adoptive Geordie)

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I quote TL's post concerning the SA viewpoint:

This leaves his former Club, Newcastle in a spot of bother as tight-heads of Hurters quality are few and far between.


That is an understatement. Quality tight heads are a rarity as are scrum halves and many of us still mourn Gary Armstrong's departure.

Marius has served the Falcons tremendously well and I join with the other contributors in wishing him good fortune in his rugby career.

To Marius I say that the weather may be a lot warmer in SA but you will miss the warmth of affection that you rightly earned amongst even the most hard-bitten Falcons supporters. Then there are the geordies who are very special in their own right.
RA paid you a huge compliment when he called you a Geordie.

Good luck Marius  (Toonfalcon)

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Best wishes to you and your family Marius......when you are playing the scrum stays put, great player good luck! (m91 Falcon)

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Can I just say Thanks for being here Marius. I've enjoyed every minute that I saw you play.

"gelukkig wees" (Westand)

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Marius is a class guy, the nicest guy to talk to. its really sad he's going mid season. I'll really miss him. Not many people can replace his scrumaging experience. I wish marius all the luck. Gud luck marra mate  (WhoKnows??)

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We'll really, really miss you Marius. Not only because you are a srummager par excellance but you are one of the nice guys - a credit to the game of rugby. All the best for the future to you and your lovely wife. Goodbye and thanks for everything.  (Geordie Fatboy)

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All the very best of luck Marius, with the season ahead with the Cats (we'll be watching out for you on a Saturday morning on sky sports), your law career and your the birth of your first child.

For six years we've watched you from the terraces and you've always been a favourite of may fans. Why? Because you simply get on with the job and do it well every time. You're Mr Reliable and I can't remember you having a bad game in the Falcons shirt. In my opinion you've also been one of the most consistent scrummagers in the ZP for the last 6 years.

What really pleased us as fans was to see you doing your infamous 3 yard charge during a game. On a good day you would get 4 yards.

It is a fitting tribute from your Director of Rugby when he says that your shoes will be difficult to fill - IMPOSSIBLE I would say.

It' sad that we've not been able to give you a proper send off at KP but hopefully you can come back and visit us sometime in the future to get that send off that you deserve - get Doddie to sort it out!!!! 

Once again, all the very best and thanks - you wore our shirt with pride and you never budged in that scrum.  (DGNTR)

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Tightheed said it all - the best tighthead and possibly prop in the club's history.  (Leipziger)

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I think the game at Saracens on Sunday sums up what Marius is about - until he came on the scrum went backwards, but never did once he was introduced.  A friend of mine who has refereed you says that you are one of the easiest props to work with, as you just want to scrummage until you've got it absolutely right.  Good luck back home, and don't be a stranger.  (Mark H)

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A great prop, a great player, a gentleman.

Will be missed.

Best of luck in all your future endeavours!  (Falcon1)

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