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Teenage prodigy Zekhethelo Siyaya is fast emerging as one of South African rugby’s most exciting young talents, and increasingly making a persuasive case for inclusion in Rassie Erasmus’ Springbok squad for the upcoming end-of-year tour.
Educated at Westville Boys’ High School, the 19-year-old utility back has made a seamless transition through the Sharks’ youth system into senior rugby.
Comfortable at both fullback and wing, Siyaya caught the attention of fans and the national coaches after stepping up to United Rugby Championship duty, with his footwork, security under the high ball, and all-round composure leading to calls for Erasmus to give him a run sooner rather than later.
With veterans such as Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi battling with injuries and set to miss the November Tests, it will be interesting to see whether Siyaya could be accelerated into the Springbok squad, even just primarily as a tourist to gain squad experience.
Siyaya’s swift progression led to a call-up to the Springbok alignment camp earlier this season, followed by a bright but brief performance for South Africa ‘A’ against Zimbabwe.
Continuing his strong form into the current Sharks campaign – including impressive performances in Europe – Siyaya has consistently shown that his skill set translates to the physical demands of northern hemisphere conditions.
With the Springboks seeking to expand their backline depth and blood young talent in European test conditions ahead of the next World Cup cycle, Siyaya’s dynamic attacking edge and rapid development could make him an ideal candidate for an international call-up.
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