Ethan Hooker could be one of the young Springboks that benefit from the 2026 season as Bok coach Rassie Erasmus wants to get more caps into certain players ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Image: AFP
Springboks and Sharks fans should not be surprised if Ethan Hooker follows his teammate Andre Esterhuizen onto the side of the scrum as a hybrid centre-come-flank.
The term invented to describe Esterhuizen’s unique role is “flenter”, and the Sharks and Boks could soon have two of them, given that Hooker has a similarly rugged build to Andre the Giant, if not quite as large, and the two play alongside each other in Durban.
On Thursday night, after Hooker had been recognised as the Men’s Young Player of the Year at the SA Rugby Awards evening, he was asked how he felt about the hybrid role.
“I do not have preferences, I play where the coach wants me, where I am needed,” said Hooker, who in January turned 23.
“At the end of the day, if they want me to play a hybrid role, I would be more than happy. I have always described myself as a forward playing in the backline because I do not mind the dirty work. I am more than happy to play in the forwards. I am open to the opportunity, but it is out of my hands.”
Hooker made his Springbok debut in July last year when he came on as a substitute in the Test against Italy in Gqeberha. In his eight Tests, he has proved to be a player of courage and fortitude. He is not shy to chase lost causes.
“I have always seen myself as someone who works hard for the team,” he smiled. “I like to put pride into the badge and the jersey I am wearing. I respect the responsibility.
“The jersey represents much more than myself. If I am not putting it in a better place, I am not doing it justice. So every game is as big as the rest, and I go out to give my best. I would not be happy with myself if I did not. I would rather know that after the game I can happily look in the mirror, even if it was not a good game.”
Hooker said he will never forget the pride he felt when he wore the green and gold for the first time.
“You remember the sacrifices that you made up to that point,” said the product of Westville Boys’ High in Durban. “It takes a huge amount of commitment and effort to get there. Putting on that jersey kind of sums it up, says everything you have done is worth it, and you embrace the honour and privilege. That feeling never goes away.”
The Young Player Award capped a fantastic 2025 year for Hooker.
“Receiving this award is awesome,” he beamed. “I had set myself some goals. And we came together as a team. Our goal is to play for SA, to bring the country together, to unite people, and we achieved that.
“I want to thank all the coaches and players I had alongside me. I could not have done it without them.
“But I tell myself I have not actually achieved anything yet. I focus on today’s task and try to get better each day.
“I have taken time for myself and appreciated what I have done,” Hooker added. “A couple of years ago, when thinking about my future career, I could not have imagined standing where I am today. It feels new to me, if I could put it that way.”
* Mike Greenaway is a senior rugby reporter at Independent Media and contributor on our Last World on Rugby podcast on our YouTube channel, The Clutch.