Coach JP Pietersen expects 18-year-old Zekhethelo Siyaya to rise to the occasion against the Ospreys in Swansea on Saturday.
Siyaya is being thrown straight into the deep end as the Sharks look to make a late run for the Vodacom URC playoffs.
The Junior Springbok starts at fullback amid an injury crisis that has ruled out regular No 15 Aphelele Fassi, as well as other promising youngsters Luan Giliomee, Hakeem Kunene and Jaco Williams.
“Siyaya is a local KZN boy and very mature,” Pietersen said. “When you have a conversation with him he’s very quiet, but he knows what he wants.”
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He said Siyaya, who starred at Westville Boys’ High and earned SA Schools honours, has impressed since joining the senior setup.
“He looks so comfortable in his position a gives good comms when he is on the field,” Pietersen added.
“He understands the rugby detail, which is sometimes hard for young players to pick up quickly, but he is very mature and fits in so well. We are all excited to see what he can do.”
Siyaya will be tested in unfamiliar northern hemisphere conditions, but Pietersen is confident in the young fullback’s abilities.
“It will be a challenge for him in Wales, maybe a heavy pitch, but we’re all behind him.”
In case you haven’t seen 18-year-old Zekhethelo Siyaya in action, this try for the SA Schools team last year was unbelievable
He’s been called up to the Hollywoodbets Sharks squad that will travel to Wales and Scotland over the coming weeks in the #VURC
pic.twitter.com/ruj85Cj8qe
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 14, 2026
The Sharks head into the clash with a lengthy injury list, with Springbok captain Siya Kolisi among those still sidelined.
“Siya is in his second week of full training,” Pietersen. “He is not as young as he used to be, so it takes a bit of time to recover from a calf injury.
“This is more a precaution. He’s probably at 80% and we want him at 100%, so hopefully next week we’re all good to go.”
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While also without Bok lock Eben Etzebeth, who suffered a season-ending hip injury in his comeback match against Connacht, Pietersen was able to call on reinforcements.
“We’ve had a bit of an injury crisis, but it’s about how you react as a group,” he said. “We’ve got some good experienced guys coming back like Emile [van Heerden] and Jason [Jenkins], Phepsi [Buthelezi], Manu [Tshituka], Jurenzo [Julius], and then obviously André [Esterhuizen] brings leadership as captain. It means a lot to the group.”
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The Sharks are 10th on the URC log, with the Ospreys 11th, three points behind.
Pietersen made it clear there is no margin for error.
“Every game is a knockout for us now. We need four wins from four to give ourselves a chance, and the players understand that.”
Photo: @SharksRugby/X
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