Is Markus Muller South Africa's Greatest-Ever Schoolboy Rugby Talent?

The South African

3 days ago

Markus Muller is rewriting the standards for schoolboy rugby in South Africa – drawing comparisons to past prodigies like Handré Pollard and Frans Steyn.
Like Pollard at Paarl Gim and Steyn at Grey College, Muller has combined raw physicality with on-field maturity to dominate at first-team level.
Over the weekend, he scored five tries and nailed nine out of ten kicks in Paarl Gim's emphatic 80–19 win over Boland Landbou. That 43-point individual haul wasn't just another big performance – it marked a career milestone. Muller officially reached 50 tries for Paarl Gim's 1st XV, a feat that few, if any, schoolboys have matched at this level.
Earlier this season, he led his side to a 43‑31 victory over Grey College, scoring two decisive tries to hand the Bloemfontein powerhouse its first home defeat since 2017.
His influence extends beyond scoring; Muller regularly creates line breaks, assists tries, and marshals the midfield defence with confidence that belies his age.
As he continues to rack up records and national recognition, many in the rugby world are asking the same question: is Markus Muller the greatest schoolboy talent South Africa has ever seen?
Muller has amassed over 50 tries in the past two seasons alone, including a five-try-haul, four hat-tricks and three braces in 2025. With each game, he adds to a growing body of work that positions him as one of the most productive schoolboy backs in South African rugby history. At the 2024 Wildeklawer tournament, he scored twice in a commanding 31–10 win, further proving his ability to perform under pressure against top-tier opposition.
His latest 43-point performance underlines the breadth of his game – blending try-scoring ability with accurate goal-kicking and tactical awareness. No longer just a standout in the midfield, Muller now performs like a complete backline general.
Muller's form earned him selection for SA Schools in 2024, where he competes for the No 13 jersey with Grey College's Ethan Adams. National selectors have flagged him as a probable starter in the SA Schools team, and the Stormers have already signed him for their 2026 intake. He's expected to develop alongside Springboks Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, adding depth and dynamism to an already talented midfield pool.
Muller also starred on the international U18 stage, scoring a crucial try in South Africa's 38‑26 win over Ireland, having helped build a 21‑12 halftime lead. He earlier represented the WP XV at Craven Week, where he impressed with both ball-in-hand and organisational play.
As he prepares for the remainder of the 2025 season, one question becomes harder to ignore: are we witnessing the best schoolboy rugby player South Africa has ever produced?
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