9 October 2026
It was only eight months ago that Siba Mahashe made his Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) debut. Now, the 22-year-old loose forward is rapidly emerging as one of the most explosive young talents in South African rugby.
His meteoric rise caught the selectors' eyes early on. In May, he was called up to a Springboks alignment camp, before spearheading South Africa A's back row against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha just a month later.
“It was a dream come true for me,” Mahashe recalls. “To know I was considered part of that environment ignited a belief in me that the work I had been putting in had been recognised.”
In August, the bustling flanker truly announced himself on the global stage. He turned in a Player of the Match performance during the 10Bet Lions' heroic clash against the touring All Blacks at Ellis Park.
Mahashe lit up the Johannesburg crowd by intercepting a Kiwi pass to storm 35 metres downfield for a spectacular try. “Everyone grows up watching the Springboks against the All Blacks,” he says. “Watching the Haka and actually experiencing it was an unreal moment.”
The Eastern Cape-born prodigy originally stumbled into the sport entirely by accident. Growing up, he focused his athletic talents on cricket and football instead.
“I actually didn’t plan on playing rugby,” Mahashe explains. “But my friends played, and they were short of a player, so my dad had to go quickly to buy me kit. I always refer to that as the year that rugby chose me.”
The fortuitous switch paid off as Mahashe earned a scholarship to Hudson Park High School in KuGompo City. A standout showing for Border at the 2022 Craven Week quickly catapulted him into the SA Schools captaincy and a Junior Boks jersey at the 2024 U20 World Championship.
Relocating to Johannesburg, he broke into senior rugby with a try on his URC bow against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in February. He capped off his stellar debut season by helping the Lions secure the South African Shield trophy.
“Since I've been at the Lions, I've always wanted to win a trophy,” he says. “The way we play is very suited for loose forwards like me. The style of play here is the best for my abilities.”
Maintaining this momentum, Mahashe has driven the Lions to consecutive victories to open the new season, anchoring them at third on the log. Up next is a heavy-duty Jukskei derby against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld this Saturday.
The young loose forward credits his current form to rigid professionalism and total alignment with his teammates. He keeps distractions at bay by staying focused entirely on his weekend assignments.
“For me, it’s being able to say no to friends whenever they want to go out during the week,” Mahashe reveals. “It’s knowing your why and what makes you perform on the weekend.”
The tight-knit culture within the Johannesburg franchise has allowed the young star to thrive seamlessly. Backed by experienced mentors in the squad, Mahashe remains focused on expanding his game.
“We are not only playing for ourselves, but we are also playing for everyone in Johannesburg,” he insists. “I'd like to stay fit and injury-free as the season goes on and just get better.”