The South African flanker, now representing the Junior Springboks, was once pictured alongside Siya Kolisi as a young schoolboy.
South Africa (30 June 2026) – Rugby season is well and truly underway, and while the Springboks continue to dominate headlines, the next generation of South African talent is also making its mark on the international stage.
The Junior Springboks kicked off their World Rugby U20 Championship title defence over the weekend, delivering a commanding 104–7 victory over Uruguay in their opening Pool A clash.
But before a ball was even kicked, one of the more heartwarming moments of the weekend came from Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who took to social media to share a throwback image of Junior Springbok squad member Wasi Vyambwera.
In the post, Kolisi captioned the moment “Hayi ndimdala (I’m old), all the best @wasi_vyambwera for the Junior Rugby World Cup,” reacting to a photo showing the two together years ago when Vyambwera was still a young schoolboy.
The phrase expressed disbelief at how quickly time has passed, adding a light-hearted touch to what has become a full-circle moment for the rising star.
Vyambwera has grown into one of the promising forwards in the system. His rise through the ranks has been steady and impressive, built on strong performances at the schoolboy level where he captained the Maritzburg College 1st XV.
His talent eventually earned him selection for the SA Schools U18 side before progressing to the Junior Springbok (SA U20) squad.
From a young supporter once pictured alongside his rugby hero, to now wearing the same national colours in a World Cup campaign of his own.
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