Zekhethelo Siyaya is among the 10 uncapped stars called by Rassie Erasmus in the 40-man squad.
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TEN uncapped players are soaking up the Springboks atmosphere at the alignment camp in Cape Town that kicked off on Tuesday, May 19, and while a fair number of them will play for South Africa at some point, I am going to back one, in particular, who will be in the World Cup squad for Australia next year.
The uncapped hopefuls are Paul de Villiers, Bathobele Hlekani, Francke Horn, Sibo Mahashe, Riley Norton, Haashim Pead, Zekhethelo Siyaya, Emmanuel Tshituka, Henco van Wyk, and Jaco Williams.
Of the 10, the most versatile are Williams and Siyaya. Williams has played fullback and wing for the Sharks, and might well play his way into the World Cup squad over the 17 months to the big kick-off in Sydney, but I will bet the rent money on Siyaya filing a utility back role in Australia.
That is because another string to his bow is not yet widely known. In four sensational appearances for the Sharks at the end of the United Rugby Championship, we saw the 18-year-old excel at fullback and flyhalf, but he is also an excellent wing.
Siyaya played in that position for the Sharks in the U18 Craven Week in Krugersdorp in 2025, and proved a handful, not only with his attacking ability but also with his strong aerial game — his kick-chase game is exceptional, while he can relieve pressure with his powerful punting.
Siyaya was picked on the wing for SA Schools and scored a hat-trick against the SA Schools A team.
We know Rassie loves players who can play multiple positions, especially at a World Cup where there is a limited number of players he can take (33), so a back that is accomplished at wing, fullback and flyhalf would be handy indeed. We also know Rassie favours loading his World Cup squads with forwards and taking fewer, multi-skilled backs.
Are we getting ahead of ourselves with the hype around Siyaya, given that he is just 18? Possibly, but probably not, because this is a special talent where the adage, “good enough is old enough”, booms loud and clear.
Siyaya’s debut for the Sharks underlines this — it was at fullback against the Ospreys in Bridgend in April. Typically, giving a teenager a professional rugby debut in front of a baying Welsh crowd would be akin to throwing him to the wolves, but Siyaya was not only fearless but composed and authoritative as he launched a series of successful attacks from the back.
Also in that match, he tackled well and even turned over a ball at a ruck as the jackler.
In 2025, Siyaya scored 17 tries in 16 matches for Westville Boys’ High, his Craven Week team and for the Junior Boks to emphasise his potency on attack.
Siyaya turns 19 on August 20. He will be 20 about six weeks before the Boks open the defence of their World Cup crown on October 3 against Italy.
If he goes to Australia with the Boks, Siyaya will be adding to a history of 20-year-old Boks at World Cups. In 1999, it was Wayne Julies; in 2003, Schalk Burger; in 2007, JP Pietersen and Frans Steyn; in 2011, Pat Lambie.