Markus Muller stands to become the youngest Springbok debutant in the professional era if he takes the field during South Africa's four November Nations Championship fixtures against Italy, France, Ireland or on Finals' Weekend.
The 19-year-old Stormers back would beat Frans Steyn's record — set at 19 years and 181 days when he debuted against Ireland in November 2006 — by a comfortable margin in any of the four matches. Against Italy he would be 19 years and 118 days old, stretching to 19 years and 138–140 days on Finals' Weekend.
Muller's rise has been rapid. He debuted for the Stormers at 18 years, 9 months and 19 days, breaking Damian Willemse's record as the youngest player to represent the Cape Town franchise and becoming only the second Stormer to play before his 19th birthday. Before that, he had already attracted attention through his performances at Paarl Gimnasium.
This year alone he has scored a try for South Africa A against Zimbabwe, started the Junior Boks' U20 World Championship semi-final and final — scoring in the latter against France during the title defence — and attended the first Springbok alignment camp. His call-up to Rassie Erasmus's senior squad for the Nations Championship nevertheless comes earlier than most anticipated.
Fellow teenage call-up Luan Giliomee cannot threaten Steyn's record but could slot into second place on the all-time list. Giliomee would be 19 years and 294 days old if he debuts against Ireland, younger than Canan Moodie's current second-place mark of 19 years and 302 days set against Australia in September 2022. Any November appearance would also place him ahead of Chilliboy Ralepelle, who debuted at 19 years and 349 days against the All Blacks in 2006.