Career
He was selected for the South African team in 1986 against the Cavaliers but as an unused substitute. Markgraaff also represented Western Transvaal, Western Province, Griqualand West and the then South West Africa in 20 games. He captained the South African Barbarians on a tour to Europe and the Junior Springboks.
In 1988, he became coach of Griqualand West.
He became president of Griquas in 1991. In 1996, Markgraaff was appointed as the Springbok rugby coach.
In 1997 Markgraaff was forced to quit after his controversial racial statements, when he referred to a black senior rugby administrator Mluleki George as a "kaffir". In his apology, Markgraaff said
"I"m not making any excuses.
I was very emotional at the time.
I apologise to the black people of this country and to the whites for causing them embarrassment."
Markgraaff made a comeback in rugby administration and was the Deputy President of SARFU and the convener of SARFU"s technical committee.
