Siviwe Soyizwapi

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Shakes Soyizwapi

| image =

| fullname = Siviwe Sonwabile Soyizwapi

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|12|07}}

| birth_place = Maclear, South Africa

| height = {{height|m=1.72}}

| weight = {{cvt|75|kg|lb stlb}}

| occupation =

| school = Dale College

| university =

| relatives =

| position = Fullback/ Wing

| currentclub = South Africa Sevens

| youthyears1 = 2010

| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}}

| youthyears2 = 2012–2013

| youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}

| years1 = 2012–2016

| clubs1 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}

| apps1 = 35

| points1 = 45

| years2 = 2013

| clubs2 = {{Rut|Southern Kings}}

| apps2 = 6

| points2 = 0

| repyears1 = 2016–present

| repteam1 = South Africa Sevens

| repcaps1 = 89

| reppoints1 = 280

| clubupdate = 9 October 2016

| repupdate = 15 November 2018

| medals =

{{MedalCountry|{{RSA}}}}

}}

Siviwe Sonwabile 'Shakes' Soyizwapi (born 7 December 1992 in Maclear) is a South African rugby union player, who is currently contracted by the South African Rugby Union to play for the South Africa Sevens national team.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=51506 | name=Shakes Soyizwapi | date=2 June 2016}} His usual position is fullback or winger.

Youth rugby

He played for the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}} at the Under-18 Academy Week in 2010, earning a call-up to the South African Under-18 High Performance team before joining the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} Academy. He played for them at the Under-21 Provincial Championship level in 2012 and 2013, finishing the latter competition as the top try scorer.{{SA Rugby Try Scorers | id=1434 | comp=2013 Absa Under 21 Competition | date=5 May 2016}}

Professional career

=Eastern Province Kings=

He made his first class debut in the 2012 Currie Cup promotion/relegation series against the {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.beeld.com/Sport/Rugby/Elektriese-King-Shakes-20121023 |title='Elektriese' King Shakes |publisher=Beeld |work=Media24 |date=23 October 2012 |access-date=24 October 2012 |author=Green, Michael |language=af}} Three appearances followed in the 2013 Vodacom Cup (scoring one try), as well as five appearances in the 2013 Currie Cup First Division (where he scored three tries) before reverting to the U21 side for the remainder of the season.

=Southern Kings=

{{Cite web |url=https://www.rugby15.co.za/siviwe-shakes-soyizwapi-called-up-to-replace-injured-parkes/ |title=Siviwe "Shakes" Soyizwapi called up to replace injured Parkes |website=Rugby 15 |language=en-US |access-date=15 May 2018}} He was initially named in the {{Rut|Southern Kings}} squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season, but was later released to the 2013 Vodacom Cup squad. Having made just four first-team appearances, he was recalled to the Super Rugby squad following an injury to Hadleigh Parkes,{{cite web |url=https://www.rugby15.co.za/southern-kings-name-reduced-35-man-super-rugby-squad/ |title=Southern Kings name reduced 35-man Super Rugby squad |work=Rugby15 |date=12 February 2013 |access-date=12 February 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215064310/http://www.rugby15.co.za/2013/02/southern-kings-name-reduced-35-man-super-rugby-squad/ |archive-date=15 February 2013 |df=dmy-all}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Hadleigh-Parkes-blow-for-Kings-20130330 |title=Parkes blow for Kings |publisher=Sport24 |date=30 March 2013 |access-date=9 April 2013}} and made his Super Rugby debut in the 28–28 draw against the {{Rut|Brumbies}} in Canberra.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportlive.co.za/rugby/superrugby/2013/04/09/soyizwapi-sizzles-for-kings |title=Soyizwapi sizzles for Kings |publisher=Sport Live |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=9 April 2013}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=114011 | homeid=15121 | awayid=15231 | leagueid=1491 | hometeam=Brumbies | homescore=28 | awayscore=28 | awayteam=Southern Kings | matchdate=5 April 2013 | date=6 December 2016}} He made three starts and three substitute appearances during the 2013 season.

In June 2014, he was selected in the starting line-up for the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} side to face {{nrut|Wales}} during a tour match during a 2014 incoming tour. He played the entire match and scored the first try for the Kings in the 57th minute of the match as the Kings suffered a 12–34 defeat.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=120524 | homeid=18334 | awayid=16974 | leagueid=1674 | hometeam=Eastern Province Kings | homescore=12 | awayscore=34 | awayteam=Wales | matchdate=10 June 2014 | date=6 December 2016}}

=Stormers=

Shortly before the start of their 2014 Super Rugby season, the {{Rut|Stormers}} signed Soyizwapi on a loan deal to provide cover for them at wing and full-back, following injuries to Cheslin Kolbe and Jaco Taute.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Stormers-sign-Kings-Soyizwapi-20140217 |title=Stormers sign Kings' Soyizwapi |publisher=Sport24 |date=17 February 2014 |access-date=17 February 2014}} However, he returned to the Kings shortly afterwards.

Sevens

In October 2013, Soyizwapi was called into a South Africa Sevens training squad before the 2013 Dubai Sevens.{{cite web |url=https://www.rugby15.co.za/kings-players-called-up-to-the-blitzbok-training-squad/ |title=Kings players called up to the Blitzbok training squad |publisher=Rugby15 |date=25 October 2013 |access-date=25 October 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201648/http://www.rugby15.co.za/2013/10/kings-players-called-up-to-the-blitzbok-training-squad/ |archive-date=29 October 2013 |df=dmy-all}} In November 2015, he joined the South African Sevens team on a two-year contract.{{cite press release |url=http://www.sarugby.net/news/24442?view=news&leagueId=2744 |title=New recruits Soyizwapi, Agaba in strong Academy line-up for Dubai |publisher=South African Rugby Union |date=27 November 2015 |access-date=27 November 2015}}

In December 2019, Soyizwapi captained the Blitzboks squad in the World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai. He led the South African Sevens team to the finals against the All Blacks Sevens, earning his very first gold medal with an emphatic 15-0 win on his birthday on 7 December.{{Cite web |title=Blitzboks down All Blacks for emphatic Dubai 7s win |url=https://supersport.com/rugby/sevens/news/191207_Blitzboks_down_All_Blacks_for_emphatic_Dubai_7s_win |access-date=28 July 2021 |website=supersport.com |language=en}}

In 2022, He was part of the South African team that won their second Commonwealth Games gold medal in Birmingham.{{cite web |last1=Mostert |first1=Herman |title=Team SA squad named for 2022 Commonwealth Games |url=https://www.news24.com/sport/othersport/team-sa-squad-named-for-2022-commonwealth-games-20220608 |access-date=2 August 2022 |website=news24.com}}{{cite web |title=Soyizwapi, Plaatjies to lead SA Sevens teams at Commonwealth Games |url=https://www.sarugby.co.za/news-features/articles/2022/07/21/soyizwapi-plaatjies-to-lead-sa-sevens-teams-at-commonwealth-games/ |access-date=2 August 2022 |website=sarugby.co.za}}{{Cite web |date=31 July 2022 |title=South Africa stun Fiji to win men's rugby sevens Commonwealth gold |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jul/31/south-africa-stun-fiji-to-win-mens-rugby-sevens-commonwealth-gold |access-date=8 August 2022 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=31 July 2022 |title=Australia and South Africa win rugby sevens gold at Commonwealth Games |url=https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/news/735452?lang=en |access-date=8 August 2022 |website=www.world.rugby}}

He competed for South Africa at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.{{Cite web |date=10 July 2024 |title=Springbok Sevens squad named for 2024 Olympic Games |url=https://saru-umbraco.azurewebsites.net//news-features/articles/2024/07/10/springbok-sevens-squad-named-for-2024-olympic-games/ |access-date=26 July 2024 |website=SA Rugby}}{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=South Africa - Rugby Sevens Olympic Games Paris 2024 |url=https://www.world.rugby/tournaments/olympics/paris-2024/participating-nations/south-africa |access-date=27 July 2024 |website=www.world.rugby}} They defeated Australia to win the bronze medal final.{{Cite web |last1=Glover |first1=Ben |last2=Bone |first2=Alyssa |date=27 July 2024 |title=Aussie devastation as captain's send-off turns clash for bronze |url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/olympics/paris-2024-mens-rugby-sevens-bronze-medal-match-australia-v-south-africa-result-20240728-p5jx3k.html |access-date=4 August 2024 |website=Nine |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Baloyi |first=Charles |date=28 July 2024 |title=Men's rugby sevens clinch Team South Africa's first medal in Paris |url=https://www.sabcsport.com/rugby/news/men-s-rugby-sevens-clinch-team-south-africa-s-first-medal-in-paris |access-date=4 August 2024 |website=SABC |language=en}}

References

External links

[https://www.sarugby.co.za/match-centre/player-detail/?playerId=eeee7193-71ad-48b3-a920-1b3ad51e7cf8&teamId=110e9d67-7a38-4bf7-ac2c-74cea777f6f7 Siviwe Soyizwapi] at Springbok Sevens
{{Sports links}}
[https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/siviwe-soyizwapi_1574118 Siviwe Soyizwapi] at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
{{2022 Commonwealth Games profile|60099}}
{{Instagram}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Squads

|list1 =

}}

Category:South African rugby union players

Category:Southern Kings players

Category:Eastern Province Elephants players

Category:Living people

Category:1992 births

Category:Sportspeople from Mthatha

Category:Rugby union fullbacks

Category:Rugby union wings