The Green and Gold is everything to me, says Vincent Tshituka ahead of SA debut
Image: BackpagePix
Vincent Tshituka has his South African passport in hand and ready for it to be stamped for national duty, as he prepares to make his debut in Springbok colours against the Barbarians on Saturday in Cape Town.
After a prolonged saga to obtain South African citizenship and become eligible for the World Cup-winning national team, the 26-year-old has finally put that chapter behind him and is now ready to focus on rugby.
The Barbarians will be the Boks' first opponents of 2025, with the clash set to take centre stage at Cape Town Stadium at 5.10pm. Tshituka said on Tuesday that receiving his passport – and by extension, citizenship – did not guarantee a place in the national team, but it gave him the opportunity to compete for selection. He is grateful to have achieved it, thanks to the support of his family.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
'For me, it was just, 'let me get the passport, let me be eligible to be in the race (to be selected)' – because without it, I was never in the race,' Tshituka explained at the team announcement. 'I felt like that was just the ticket to participate, and then being selected for a Test match is winning a medal.
'It was something I tried to get for quite a while, and everybody asked me that question. My response was always: getting the passport doesn't put me in the squad – there's still a selection process.
'After a good season, people were saying, 'Ja, you're going to play for the Springboks, you're going to make it'. But that was always the best-case scenario for me, and I tried to put it on the back burner.'
Debutant Vincent Tshituka on getting a start for the #Springboks and fulfilling a dream on Saturday against the Barbarians pic.twitter.com/PZvs8chdMu — Leighton Koopman (@Leighton_K) June 24, 2025
Tshituka is well aware of the challenge ahead as he prepares to face top-class opposition in his first outing. However, the loose-forward is focused on staying present as he takes the field alongside captain Siya Kolisi and eighth man Jean-Luc du Preez in the Boks' first match of the year.
The Barbarians boast a star-studded squad including Ireland's Peter O'Mahony and New Zealanders Sam Cane, Shannon Frizzell, Lachlan Boshier and Hoskins Sotutu – a formidable force, particularly at the breakdown.
Despite the calibre of his opponents, Tshituka is staying focused on his own role.
#Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus and the uncapped Vincent Tshituka speaking to the media during the team announcement ahead of Saturday's clash vs the Barbarians pic.twitter.com/eLxjZwAcHP — Leighton Koopman (@Leighton_K) June 24, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
6 hours ago
- The South African
Will Andile Mpisane play for mom's new club? MaMkhize responds
Shauwn Mkhize – fondly known as MaMkhize – has shut down speculation that her son Andile Mpisane will play for Mbabane Highlanders AM FC. Last week, the businesswoman officially signed a three-year presidency deal with the eSwatini soccer club. This news comes months after SARS seized her South African team, Royal AM, to pay off her R40 million debt. Although the club includes the initials of his name – AM, or Andile Mpisane – his mother, MaMkhize, revealed that her son would take a step back. Speaking to Andile Ncube on Metro FM, the controversial businesswoman said: 'He wants to be in the management space now. 'I don't see him going there [to eSwatini], but he enjoys being in the business side of things.' When asked if Andile Mpisane had hung up his soccer boots, his mother responded, 'I don't know, but for now, I think so. Will Andile Mpisane play for his mom MaMkhize's new football club? Images via Instagram: @kwa_mamkhize 'Because even when Royal AM was there, he was starting to learn the administrative part of it. 'I think all that he wanted was to play in the elite league – which he did, he tasted that' With his football career likely over, Andile Mpisane will likely focus his attention on his budding music career or his hobby of collecting luxury cars. The 24-year-old is known for his expensive taste in cars and clothes, and posts bragging about his soccer skills. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
7 hours ago
- The South African
Sacha on missed kicks: 'Off target, not off track'
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has reacted to criticism of his performance in the Springboks game against Georgia at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, 19 July. The flyhalf came under fire after missing a series of crucial penalty kicks. Last year, Sacha was inducted into the national rugby team and has made nine test match appearances. In an Instagram post, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu directly responded to criticism of his missed penalty kicks. Posting a series of pics from Saturday's game, he shared: 'Off target — Not off track. Great experience out in Nelspruit! Thank you, South Africa.' On social media, rugby fans claimed that Sacha had gotten off lightly as compared to fellow flyhalf Manie Libbok, who has often been criticised over his performances. Meanwhile, Rassie Erasmus has conceded that while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 'made the most errors', he was 'pleased' with his performance. In a post-match briefing, the Springbok coach said: 'Sacha is not necessarily the first choice. Number ten, we have Manie, who is pretty much on song, and we saw with Handre when he came on that he is pretty solid. 'You can't just look at his goal kicking. He struggled before doing pretty well, but in the warm-up he got a hip pointer injury and we weren't quite sure if we should push him through the game. But he wanted to play, but that's not an excuse for the way he kicked at poles. Rassie added: 'We are pleased overall, it's his second start for us this year and he is younger than the other fly-halves.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
8 hours ago
- The South African
'We don't want Royal AM': Supporters of MaMkhize's new club
A group of football supporters of Mbabane Highlanders FC – now renamed Mbabane Highlanders AM FC – are rejecting the new position of power given to MaMkhize, real name Shauwn Mkhize. Last week, the businesswoman was announced as president of the eSwatini club. She has since called for 'unity' among fans and expressed her desire for the club to relive its 'glory days.' This news comes months after SARS seized her South African team, Royal AM, to pay off her R40 million debt. The club was later expelled from the PSL. During her first address as Mbabalane Highlanders AM FC on Sunday, 20 July, the club revealed that MaMkhize had 'called for unity and urged all stakeholders to play their part in restoring the club to its former glory'. It added: 'She emphasized the importance of protecting the club's image, encouraging everyone to refrain from public commentary that could hinder efforts to build a strong and respected brand'. 'Most significantly, she pledged her full commitment to making Mbabane Highlanders AM the leading football club in the country—on and off the pitch'. Last week, the eSwatini club confirmed that MaMkhize had signed a three-year presidency deal as the club's president. In a video clip, MaMkhize revealed that she had added a 'touch of gold' and her signature 'AM', and that players of the eSwatini club would now wear black and gold. 'New look. Same spirit. 🖤💛 Mbabane Highlanders AM F.C. is now draped in black and gold', a Facebook post from the club read. MaMkhize is the new president of Mbabane Highlanders. Images via Instagram: @kwa_mammkhize Although many Mbabane Highlanders AM FC fans have vowed to support MaMkhize as president of the club, others are wary and even concerned about her involvement. On its official Facebook account, many have rejected the new leadership and its link to the now-defunct SA club. Gcin'muzi Hlatshwayo: 'We are not Royal AM!' Imagine Sci-fi Mzanzi: 'This is disrespectful to this old club.' Doni Dlamini: 'Highlanders is dead now!' Denis De Sousa: 'Royal AM 2.0?'
