From Mooiplaas to the Top 14: Tiaan Jacobs chasing Springbok dream
Tiaan Jacobs has taken a road rarely travelled by South African prospects, but the 21-year-old Bordeaux Bègles loose forward is building a compelling case for senior Springbok consideration after more than 16 Top 14 appearances and three Champions Cup outings in his debut season at one of France's premier clubs.
Jacobs grew up on his grandfather's farm in Mooiplaas, north-east of East London, with rugby woven into family life from the outset — his father Bennie made 185 appearances for Border between 1995 and 2005. After impressing at Selborne College and representing Border U18 at Craven Week in 2022, Jacobs was overlooked by every SA U18 squad and drew limited interest from domestic unions. Rather than wait, he signed with Pro D2 side Biarritz at 19, making his professional debut in France before most of his peers had featured regularly at franchise level.
Within a year at Biarritz, his form earned him a Junior Springboks call-up for the 2024 U20 Rugby Championship — a selection that coach Bafana Nhleko made as an overseas player, which Jacobs acknowledges as a pivotal moment. That campaign brought him to Bordeaux's attention, and the move to the Top 14 club followed.
"If you look at the URC, there aren't many young players getting opportunities, but in the French Top 14 and Pro D2, most squads are filled with young players, and you get a chance to compete at the highest level," Jacobs told Rugby365.
At Bordeaux he trains and plays alongside Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud, Matthieu Jalibert, Cameron Woki, and fellow South African Carlu Sadie — an environment Jacobs describes as an accelerated education.
On the question of international eligibility, Jacobs is unequivocal. While World Rugby residency rules would eventually open a pathway to Les Bleus, he has no intention of pursuing it.
"It's never crossed my mind. I'm South African through and through, and my blood is green and gold," he said.