Tshituka's rugby career was born from a school with no soccer team — now he's chasing a World Cup spot

Vincent Tshituka came within a conversation of abandoning rugby for an IT career. The 27-year-old Sharks flanker, who earned his second Springbok cap off the bench against Scotland in the Nations Championship Test at Loftus Versfeld, grew up in Windsor West, Johannesburg, dreaming of being a goalkeeper. When Northcliff High School offered rugby but no soccer, he followed older brother Naisvic into the sport — though without any conviction it would become a profession.

At the University of Johannesburg, where he was studying IT and playing in the Young Guns tournament, a direct intervention from coach Joey Mongalo changed his trajectory. "He told me: 'Listen to me. Rugby has the opportunity to change your life and your family's life — if you buy into it,'" Tshituka recalled. "And he hasn't been wrong."

Tshituka was four when his family emigrated from the DRC to South Africa. His father Simon worked as a contractor in the scrap and mineral sector while money was persistently scarce. He credits professional rugby with stabilising the family's circumstances, including through the Covid period. "I don't know what that Covid era would have looked like if it wasn't for rugby and the financial backing that was helping me and my family massively."

He now plays at the Sharks alongside younger brother Emmanuel, and recently captained the South Africa A side against Zimbabwe. The second Springbok cap has sharpened his focus on the 2027 World Cup squad. "Every passing moment I never take for granted being in the Springbok squad," he said. "South Africa is filled with the most talent in the world and I think for me to be here is testament to the work that I've done and to stay here is a whole different challenge and that's what I'm working on."

On the xenophobic marches of June 30, which he and his family were not directly affected by, Tshituka was measured but clearly pained. "It keeps recurring. The thing that breaks my heart is that it always falls into this chaotic space and lots of people are hurt. It's just never brought solutions."