Siviwe Soyizwapi

Siviwe Sonwabile 'Shakes' Soyizwapi (born 7 December 1992 in Maclear) is a South African rugby union player, who is currently contracted by the South African Rugby Union to play for the South Africa Sevens national team.[1] His usual position is fullback or winger.

Shakes Soyizwapi
Full nameSiviwe Sonwabile Soyizwapi
Date of birth (1992-12-07) 7 December 1992
Place of birthMaclear, South Africa
Height1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Weight75 kg (165 lb; 11 st 11 lb)
SchoolDale College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback/ Wing
Current team South Africa Sevens
Youth career
2010 Border Bulldogs
2012–2013 Eastern Province Kings
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2016 Eastern Province Kings 35 (45)
2013 Southern Kings 6 (0)
Correct as of 9 October 2016
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–present South Africa Sevens 89 (280)
Correct as of 15 November 2018
Medal record
Men's rugby sevens
Representing  South Africa
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2022 BirminghamTeam competition

Youth rugby

He played for the Border Bulldogs at the Under-18 Academy Week in 2010, earning a call-up to the South African Under-18 High Performance team before joining the Eastern Province Kings Academy. He played for them at the Under-21 Provincial Championship level in 2012 and 2013, finishing the latter competition as the top try scorer.[2]

Professional career

Eastern Province Kings

He made his first class debut in the 2012 Currie Cup promotion/relegation series against the Free State Cheetahs.[3] Three appearances followed in the 2013 Vodacom Cup (scoring one try), as well as five appearances in the 2013 Currie Cup First Division (where he scored three tries) before reverting to the U21 side for the remainder of the season.

Southern Kings

[4] He was initially named in the Southern Kings squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season, but was later released to the 2013 Vodacom Cup squad. Having made just four first-team appearances, he was recalled to the Super Rugby squad following an injury to Hadleigh Parkes,[5][6] and made his Super Rugby debut in the 28–28 draw against the Brumbies in Canberra.[7][8] He made three starts and three substitute appearances during the 2013 season.

In June 2014, he was selected in the starting line-up for the Eastern Province Kings side to face Wales during a tour match during a 2014 incoming tour. He played the entire match and scored the first try for the Kings in the 57th minute of the match as the Kings suffered a 12–34 defeat.[9]

Stormers

Shortly before the start of their 2014 Super Rugby season, the Stormers signed Soyizwapi on a loan deal to provide cover for them at wing and full-back, following injuries to Cheslin Kolbe and Jaco Taute.[10] However, he returned to the Kings shortly afterwards.

Sevens

In October 2013, Soyizwapi was called into a South Africa Sevens training squad before the 2013 Dubai Sevens.[11] In November 2015, he joined the South African Sevens team on a two-year contract.[12]

In December 2019, Soyizwapi captained the Blitzboks squad in the World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai. He led the South African Sevens team to the finals against the All Blacks Sevens, earning his very first gold medal with an emphatic 15-0 win on his birthday on 7 December.[13]

In 2022, He was part of the South African team that won their second Commonwealth Games gold medal in Birmingham.[14][15][16][17]

References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Shakes Soyizwapi". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  2. "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2013 Absa Under 21 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  3. Green, Michael (23 October 2012). "'Elektriese' King Shakes". Media24 (in Afrikaans). Beeld. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  4. "Siviwe "Shakes" Soyizwapi called up to replace injured Parkes | 15.co.za | | Rugby News, Live Scores, Results, Fixtures". www.rugby15.co.za. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  5. "Southern Kings name reduced 35-man Super Rugby squad". Rugby15. Rugby15. 12 February 2013. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  6. "Parkes blow for Kings". Sport24. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  7. "Soyizwapi sizzles for Kings". Sport Live. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Brumbies 28–28 Southern Kings". South African Rugby Union. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 12–34 Wales". South African Rugby Union. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  10. "Stormers sign Kings' Soyizwapi". Sport24. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  11. "Kings players called up to the Blitzbok training squad". Rugby15. 25 October 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  12. "New recruits Soyizwapi, Agaba in strong Academy line-up for Dubai" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  13. "Blitzboks down All Blacks for emphatic Dubai 7s win". supersport.com. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  14. Mostert, Herman. "Team SA squad named for 2022 Commonwealth Games". news24.com. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  15. "Soyizwapi, Plaatjies to lead SA Sevens teams at Commonwealth Games". sarugby.co.za. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  16. "South Africa stun Fiji to win men's rugby sevens Commonwealth gold". the Guardian. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  17. "Australia and South Africa win rugby sevens gold at Commonwealth Games". www.world.rugby. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
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