Springbok captains: Who has the most caps as skipper?

Siya Kolisi will skipper the Springboks for the 50th time when they face Tonga this weekend, but where does he stand on the all-time list of captains.

WHO HAS THE MOST CAPS AS SPRINGBOKS’ SKIPPER?

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5 FRANCOIS PIENAAR 

Captain of the Springboks from 1993 until 1996, Francois Pienaar wrote his name into history when he led South Africa to the 1995 Rugby World Cup triumph.

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Pienaar was both the last Springbok skipper of the amateur era and the first of the fully professional period of rugby union’s history.

He led the Springboks 29 times.

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4 GARY TEICHMANN

Gary Teichmann has the distinction of leading the Springboks through one of the most dominant spells in their history.

He was at the helm as the Springboks won 17 Tests in a row, then a joint world-record in Test rugby.

Teichmann captained the Springboks 36 times. 

3 JEAN DE VILLIERS

Jean De Villiers was Springbok skipper between 2012 and 2015 suffering a heartbreaking injury before the World Cup eight years ago.

His retirement left something of a captaincy void for the Springboks after his 37 Tests at the helm.

2 SIYA KOLISI

It would only be in 2018 that the Springboks settled on Kolisi as the full-time skipper.

His time as captain has ushered in a new era of Springbok rugby and he will lead the Springboks for the 50th time against Tonga.

1 JOHN SMIT

John Smit’s time as skipper of the Springboks was long but still an incredible rollercoaster ride for him and the team.

Smit led the Springboks a record 83 times in Test rugby across eight years as skipper between 2003 and 2011.

He captained the Springboks to the 2007 Rugby World Cup triumph in France.

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