FOUR Springbok players unlikely to play in the 2027 Rugby World Cup

Most of the players from the 2023 Springbok World Cup-winning squad are over 30 years old and some will likely miss the 2027 edition.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi. Image: @Springboks/X

The number of Springbok players who are in the twilight of their careers may impact the team’s prospects for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

With two years to go before the tournament, Boks coach Rassie Erasmus is focused on building a squad that aims to retain the Webb Ellis Trophy for the third consecutive time. After winning the tournament back-to-back in 2019 and 2023, South Africa is favored to become the first team to win the Rugby World Cup three times in a row. Unfortunately, Rassie does not have a young roster. Most of the players from the 2023 Springbok World Cup-winning squad are over 30 years old.

Recently, Steven Kitshoff announced his retirement from professional rugby due to complications from a serious neck injury he sustained in 2024. With several key players now in their mid-30s, we examine four Springboks who are less likely to feature in the upcoming tournament: –

Willie le Roux

The versatile full-back will be 38 by 2027, and given his average performance with the national team over the past 12 months, he might not participate in his fourth World Cup.

Trevor Nyakane

The World Cup-winning prop is facing a lengthy recovery period after disclosing on social media that he recently underwent surgery for an Achilles injury.

Springbok key players to play their last World Cup

Eben Etzebeth

Etzebeth has been sidelined for several months due to concussion issues. He may return later this year for the 2025 Test campaign, but as the most capped Springbok player, he last played in December. His chances of selection could diminish if his form declines significantly over the next two years.

Siya Kolisi

The two-time World Cup-winning captain and face of the Springboks is now 34 years old and is no longer the same player he was five or six years ago. He nearly missed the 2023 World Cup due to injury, raising concerns that another injury closer to the next tournament might prevent him from participating. Rassie Erasmus has emphasized the importance of captaincy in South Africa.

He said, “When I started out as a Bok player, captaincy wasn’t a significant concern for me because I believed we all share ownership and support the captain.” This week, he affirmed that if the Springbok captain is fit, healthy, and in the best possible shape, he will play in the 2027 Rugby World Cup.