SA Rugby announced a 40-man Springbok squad featuring 25 forwards and 15 backline players for the team’s second in-person alignment camp of the year in Cape Town from Tuesday 19 to Thursday 21 May.
Additionally, 10 of those players are uncapped stars with mostly URC and Junior Bok experience. However, upon closer inspection, one can see that Erasmus cast his wide again, with the noticeable inclusion of Sibabalwe Mahashe and Zekhethelo Siyaya.
The Lions flanker and Sharks utility back are two of the most exciting young players in South African rugby. Both just recently made the step up into senior professional rugby and have made an immediate impact since, drawing attention from coaches and supporters alike. Their rapid rise from schools rugby to Springbok consideration tells two very different but equally compelling stories.
So just who are they? Well, let’s examine two of the brightest talents entering the Springbok fold after just barely breaking into the professional domain.
Siba Mahashe (flanker, Lions)
Mahashe grew up in East London and attended Hudson Park High School, the same institution that produced Odwa and Akona Ndungane. He captained Border at under-13 Craven Week, led the SA Schools side and later earned a Junior Springbok call-up. Those who have worked closely with him have compared him to a young Siya Kolisi, a considerable comparison that carries enormous weight in South African rugby in South African rugby..
After school, Mahashe joined the Lions’ youth structures and captained the Lions Under-21 side during the SA Cup before breaking into senior rugby. He made his senior debut against Lyon in the EPCR Challenge Cup, then started his URC debut against the Sharks at Ellis Park, scored a try and helped the Lions to a 34-22 win. In seven URC appearances since, he has scored four tries and been part of a six-match unbeaten run that included wins over Glasgow Warriors, the Sharks and the Stormers.
His style is built around hard work at the breakdown and robust carrying. His body position at the breakdown is consistently correct, and he competes with a discipline that more experienced players struggle to sustain across 80 minutes. Against Glasgow, he recorded the second-most tackles in the match and led the dominant tackle count. He also carries with purpose and assists teammates regularly through his link play.
Teammates and coaches already discuss him as a future captain, and at 22, that conversation has genuine foundation.
Zekhethelo Siyaya (flyhalf/utility back, Sharks)
Siyaya finished matric at Westville Boys’ High in 2025 and is already playing URC rugby for the Sharks. He grew up in Paulpietersburg in rural northern KwaZulu-Natal and scored 17 tries in 16 matches across school, provincial and national appearances in 2024. That included a hat-trick for SA Schools against SA Schools A and a brace for SA Under-18 against Ireland Under-18.
Sharks coach JP Pietersen fast-tracked him into the senior setup, and Siyaya’s URC debut against the Ospreys in Bridgend confirmed why. He showed sharp footwork, aerial dominance, a reliable boot off both feet and the composure to operate in first-receiver roles at 18 years old.
His style is predatory and instinctive. Against Benetton, deployed at flyhalf, he gathered a return kick, immediately read a gap in the kick chase, beat three defenders and gained nearly 40 metres. Later in the same match he abandoned a set play on his own read to accelerate through a closing gap before it shut. He also defensive sound. Case in point was when Siyaya tackled veteran Italian No 8 Lorenzo Cannone coming at him full speed on a structured midfield play, which required both technique and confidence. His ability to hold defenders before releasing the ball late is a skill most flyhalves take years to develop.
At 18, Siyaya does it all naturally, which is the main reason Pietersen and now Erasmus have taken notice.
UNCAPPED PLAYERS IN SPRINGBOKS FOLD
Forwards (6): Paul de Villiers, Bathobele Hlekani, Francke Horn, Sibabalwe Mahashe, Riley Norton, Emmanuel Tshituka.
Backs (4): Haashim Pead, Zekhethelo Siyaya, Henco van Wyk, Jaco Williams.
SPRINGBOK FIXTURES IN 2026
Nations Championship (Home)
4 July: South Africa vs England (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
11 July: South Africa vs Scotland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
18 July: South Africa vs Wales (Kings Park, Durban)
“Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” vs All Blacks
22 Aug: 1st Test: South Africa vs New Zealand (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
29 Aug: 2nd Test: South Africa vs New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
5 Sept: 3rd Test: South Africa vs New Zealand (FNB Stadium, Johannesburg)
12 Sept: 4th Test: South Africa vs New Zealand (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA)
Nations Championship (Away)
7 Nov: Italy vs South Africa (Venue TBC)
13 Nov: France vs South Africa (Stade de France, Paris)
21 Nov: Ireland vs South Africa (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Additional Once-Off 2026 Fixtures:
20 June: Warm-up: Springboks vs Barbarians (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium)
8 Aug: Test Match: Argentina vs Springboks (Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires)
27 Sept: Test Match: Wallabies vs Springboks (Optus Stadium, Perth)
