Five SA Rugby Players To Watch In 2025

Ethan Hooker

Barring injury, Hooker will make his Springbok debut this year. He’s that big of a can’t-miss prospect.

Brilliant since bursting onto the scene for the struggling Sharks in 2023, he quickly made a name for himself as he helped the franchise win their maiden European Challenge Cup title and was called up to a Springbok alignment camp in 2024.

Big, strong and athletic, the 21-year-old has all the tools to thrive on the biggest stage and with the Sharks smartly using him at his preferred position of centre and on the wing, his versatility will only further aid his Bok career.

Henco van Wyk

With three serious knee injuries having hampered Van Wyk’s rise since his breakthrough season at the Lions in 2023, South African rugby lovers collectively hope 2025 will be the year of “Weapon X.”

Still just 23, he’s as excellent on attack as he is on defence and has fortunately not lost any of the explosiveness that makes him such an extraordinary talent.

A game-breaker who is known to produce awe-inspiring plays on both sides of the ball with a competitive drive that sees him fight for every inch, he should fit right in at the Boks and will likely make his Test debut against either Italy or Georgia in July.

Siya Masuku

Masuku enjoyed a meteoric rise at the start of his Sharks career, culminating in a world-class performance against Gloucester in the European Challenge Cup final in which he scored 21 points to pilot the Durbanites to glory last season.

An invitation to the Springbok alignment camp followed but nothing came of it and he’s since struggled to recapture the form that made him the most talked about flyhalf in the country during his purple patch.

The 28-year-old is reportedly amongst a group of uncapped players who’ll be given an opportunity in the mid-year internationals, so it’ll be interesting to see what he does before then and if he dons the Green and Gold.

Edwill van der Merwe

A pint-sized predator in the Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse mould, Van der Merwe looked set for a magical 2024 after his Man of the Match performance in his Springbok debut against Wales at Twickenham only for an injury to put his Test career on pause.

The Lions livewire is eager to make up for lost time and nail down his place in the South African squad in 2025. It won’t be easy as all the wingers, including elder statesman Makazole Mapimpi, continue to fire.

However, the 28-year-old loves a challenge and has all the flair in the world and the requisite fundamentals to carve out a place for himself.

Cobus Wiese

After successful terms at the Stormers and Sale Sharks, Wiese has come into his own at the Bulls. Though mostly used at No. 4, the 125kg unit’s remarkable motor has seen him feature in the back row as well.

The Springboks are always looking for utility forwards and the 26-year-old is amongst the country’s most promising hybrid athletes.

With Salmaan Moerat’s misfortune when it comes to recurring injuries, Rassie Erasmus is monitoring alternative options and Wiese is reportedly in that mix.

Aside from his size, mobility and versatility, his mongrel in the form of controlled aggression will stand his Springbok hopes in good stead.