Cameron Hanekom doing all he can to repay Bok coaches' faith in him
Springbok rugby player Cameron Hanekom is working to solidify his position in the South African national team after a strong performance against the All Blacks. Despite his recent success, he remains humble and focused on the intense competition within the squad.
Why it matters
Hanekom's development is a key narrative for South African rugby as the team manages player depth and injury recovery.
Springbok eighthman Cameron Hanekom had a great outing against the All Blacks in Soweto. Picture: Floris van Schouwenburg/Gallo Images
Cameron Hanekom turned in a strong performance off the bench against the All Blacks in their third Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test at FNB Stadium in Soweto, but by no means does he feel his position in the Springbok team is secure.
The eighthman played just his fifth Test for the Boks on Saturday, four of which came this year. This was also the first time he played back-to-back matches for South Africa.
This comes after a lone Test debut against Wales in 2024, and then a nine-month hamstring injury lay-off that ruled him out of the entire 2025/26 international season despite receiving the URC Next-Gen Player of the Season award and looking set for a breakthrough year with the Springboks.
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