At just 22, Ethan Hooker has burst onto the Springbok scene through versatility, power and smart execution.
Every so often, a young player emerges whose growth seems to match the tempo of his own ambition. For South Africa, that player is Ethan Hooker, a modern backline hybrid who reads the game with the sharpness of a veteran and carries with the authority of a forward. The Sharks midfielder’s 2025 has been a revelation, and his early days in the Springbok setup suggest the rise has only just begun.
“I think I’m very privileged to be in the situation I am now,” Hooker says, reflecting on his breakout year. “Being in such an environment with such good players and such quality coaches automatically just ups your game.”
TEST ROOKIE KEEN TO KEEP LEARNING AT ELITE LEVEL
Hooker’s transition from domestic prospect to international performer has been seamless, shaped by his mindset more than any physical gift.
“I just try to take away as much as I can every single day,” he explains. “I build on myself every single day with the players I have around me.”
That appetite to improve mirrors the Springbok ethos, constant refinement, never comfort.
“What’s special about this environment,” Hooker continues, “is that everyone’s so eager to always better themselves. I think no one ever gets complacent. There are always work-ons, and everyone just wants to be better all the time.”
It’s that very culture that has helped transform him from a promising Sharks centre into a genuine Test contender. His 2024/25 URC numbers underline his growth: eight tries, 722 metres gained, and a league-high 25 clean breaks for the Durban side. Those are the sort of returns that forced selectors to pay attention.
Hooker now finds himself in the most competitive midfield depth chart in world rugby, and thriving.
“I think world rankings don’t really mean anything,” he says, brushing off comparisons. “It’s all about how a team pitches up on the day and how you prep during the week.”
EMBRACING HIS MULTI-POSITIONAL ROLE AND THE HIGH DEMANDS OF TEST RUGBY
Few qualities define the modern Springbok backline better than adaptability, and Hooker embraces it fully.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a preference for me,” he says when asked about playing centre or wing. “I love being able to play multiple positions. It widens my game and gives the coaches more opportunities to play me wherever they feel fit. As long as I’m on the field, that’s what matters.”
His blend of power, precision, and positional range makes him one of South Africa’s most intriguing young talents. And that flexibility has been invaluable to both Sharks and Boks in recent months. Rassie Erasmus has been using him primarily on the wing, but Hooker’s ability to slot into any backline role gives him a rare edge. In an era defined by interchangeability, he represents the prototype of the new South African back: powerful and instinctive.
With Saturday’s looming Test, potentially facing Italy again also holds a somewhat personal connection for Hooker. Mere months on from his debut against Italy, the prospect of facing the Azzurri again feels almost symbolic.
“The team’s not finalised yet, but if I had to run on that field,” he smiles, “it’d be very special. I did make my debut against them, so it’d be almost like a homecoming for me.”
“Italy is always a tough team,” he noted before the recent tour. “They’re very different at home, a different monster. But it’s just about manning up, sticking to our systems, and performing as we’d like to.”
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It’s that calm assurance, not bravado, that has marked him out in a Springbok setup known for its intensity. He plays with control and speaks with composure.
“I think being part of this group teaches you humility,” he says. “You realise quickly that success here is about the team, not the individual.”
More importantly, his approach – ambitious yet grounded – is a microcosm of the next generation of Springbok rugby.
“I just want to keep learning,” he says quietly, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. And if his trajectory continues as it has, Springbok rugby might just have found another long-term cornerstone.
