"New captain" Siya Kolisi to be replaced as Springbok skipper
Rugby NewsThursday, 26 June 2025 at 19:27
Siya Kolisi will lead the Springboks out once again this weekend, but Rassie Erasmus has made it clear: South Africa’s long-term captaincy plans are shifting.
The two-time World Cup-winning skipper remains first choice for now, but Erasmus is already eyeing younger options as the Boks prepare for life after Kolisi.
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? Kolisi to captain Boks against Barbarians
The inspirational flanker will wear the armband in Saturday’s clash with the Barbarians in Cape Town, kicking off South Africa’s 2025 season.
But with the 34-year-old not expected to feature in every Test this year, Erasmus has confirmed that leadership will be shared around.
“Siya will be captain obviously, and Jesse [Kriel] will be vice-captain,” said Erasmus.
“We’ll rotate things a bit – Damian [de Allende] will sit this one out so Andre Esterhuizen comes in.”
? Rassie plotting a leadership refresh
While Kolisi remains a central figure, Erasmus isn’t sticking to the usual suspects when it comes to filling the leadership void.
The Bok boss namechecked the likes of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi, and Salmaan Moerat– all of whom have skippered the Boks or acted as vice-captains in recent years.
“When the time is right, we’ll definitely look at a new captain,” Erasmus added.
“Siya definitely won’t play all the matches this year.”
? What next for the Boks?
South Africa are building towards a historic World Cup three-peat in 2027 – and Erasmus wants to ensure the next leader is battle-tested well before then.
Expect to see different players handed the captaincy throughout 2025 as the Boks rotate their squad and experiment with combinations.
Power Rankings: British & Irish Lions Tier List – Who’s Leading the Race for a Test Jersey?
This evolving tier list ranks players from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales by likelihood of starting the Lions Test matches, considering form, experience, versatility, and injury status.
We will release weekly updates throughout the build-up to the tour, reflecting changes in form, injuries, and squad developments — so stay tuned for the latest insights!
Tier Legend:
- ? S Tier – Near-lock for the Test XV
- ? A Tier – Strong favourite, very likely starter
- ? B Tier – In contention, bench or squad player
- ? C Tier – Outside shot, needs big tour to break in
- ? D Tier – Unlikely barring injury or drastic changes
[elementor-template id="208937"]
Hookers
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dan Sheehan | ? S | The standout hooker; dynamic around the field and solid on set-piece. |
| Rónan Kelleher | ? B | Reliable and strong bench option, pushing for Test starts if form holds. |
| Luke Cowan-Dickie | ? C | Experienced, but behind the Irish duo in pecking order. |
Props
Loosehead
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ellis Genge | ? A | Outstanding performance against Argentina pushes him ahead of Porter. |
| Andrew Porter | ? B | Strong but edged out by Genge’s recent form. |
| Pierre Schoeman | ? C | Reliable backup option. |
Tighthead
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tadhg Furlong | ? A | Still top choice, though fitness is a factor. |
| Will Stuart | ? B | Now ahead of Bealham, who drops to C. |
| Finlay Bealham | ? C | Depth option behind Stuart. |
Second Row
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maro Itoje | ? S | The clear Test starter and captain; dominant on all fronts. |
| Tadhg Beirne | ? A | Versatile lock/blindside with great skillset. |
| Joe McCarthy | ? B | Rising star with big potential. |
| Ollie Chessum | ? B | Mobile and aggressive, pushing for Test role. |
| James Ryan | ? C | Injuries and dips in form have slowed him down. |
Back Row
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Curry | ? A | If fully fit, a starting candidate for back row. |
| Ben Earl | ? B | Solid contender but competition fierce. |
| Josh van der Flier | ? B | World-class but form is slightly inconsistent recently. |
| Jac Morgan | ? B | Welsh leader, in the mix for bench or rotation. |
| Jack Conan | ? C | Experienced but behind younger options. |
Scrum-halves
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jamison Gibson-Park | ? A | Likely starting 9 if fit. |
| Tomos Williams | ? B | Promoted ahead of Alex Mitchell based on impact and experience. |
| Alex Mitchell | ? C | Solid but currently third in pecking order. |
Fly-halves
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Finn Russell | ? S | Clear Test starter with creativity and control. |
| Fin Smith | ? A | Emerging star, surpassing Marcus Smith as main backup. |
| Marcus Smith | ? C | Has struggled at fullback; Test fly-half spot unlikely. |
Centres
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bundee Aki | ? A | Midfield mainstay. |
| Huw Jones | ? B | Now ahead of Ringrose for his attacking prowess. |
| Sione Tuipulotu | ? B | Versatile and strong option, deserving of B tier status. |
| Garry Ringrose | ? C | Dropped slightly due to injury/form. |
Wings
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Duhan van der Merwe | ? S | Test starter. |
| James Lowe | ? A | Reliable threat. |
| Tommy Freeman | ? B | Moves ahead of Hansen due to recent form. |
| Mack Hansen | ? C | Slight drop due to injuries/form. |
Fullbacks
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blair Kinghorn | ? A | Now ahead of Keenan, though may join squad later due to club commitments. |
| Hugo Keenan | ? B | Slightly edged down but still a strong option. |
| Elliot Daly | ? D | Utility back role. |
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Can You Name Every 2021 British & Irish Lions Player?
Think you remember the 2021 Lions tour of South Africa? It’s been a few years since that brutal, bruising, and controversial Test series — but true rugby heads never forget.
- 42 players were named in Warren Gatland’s final squad
- The Lions won the First Test 22-17, but the Springboks hit back to win the series 2-1
- The decider? A gritty 19-16 Springbok victory that still stings for many fans
Now it's time to test your memory.
- How many of those 42 Lions can you name?
- No hints. No positions. Just rugby IQ.
- You’ve got 5 minutes.
Take the quiz, scroll down, and start typing.
Let’s see what you’re made of.
Let’s see what you’re made of.
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