At the beginning of the season, the Springboks will have a new captain, though it’s unclear how long this appointment will last.

On Sunday, June 9th, the Springboks will come together in Pretoria to start their on-field training in anticipation of an incredible 2024 campaign.

It will be Kolisi’s closest friend who assumes the captaincy armband. With a wealth of expertise, Etzebeth led the Springboks in the past.

Both opponents and teammates hold the strong lock in the highest regard, and he would not look out of place in the captaincy role.

Additionally, it has been confirmed that the United Rugby Championship quarterfinals on Saturday, June 8, will choose the Test team for Wales’ opening match on June 22.

The fact that the first Test of the year falls outside of the international window means that most of the players who are stationed overseas will not be available, making this a very fascinating squad. These players may also be eliminated if the Bulls and Stormers advance to the URC championship.

Although there is a lot of unknown surrounding this one-time Test, we do know that the team will be primarily experimental and that a new captain will need to be chosen.

It has been publicly acknowledged by coach Rassie Erasmus that having a captain who lives nearby and can attend alignment camps and meetings more frequently is preferred.

It has raised concerns about whether the team’s charismatic captain, Siya Kolisi, will be able to continue leading them now that he is located in France.

Kolisi won’t be available for the Springboks’ match against Wales, so it will be intriguing to see who takes over as captain and whether this ends up becoming more of a permanent position.

Whatever the situation, Kolisi, 32, won’t be able to play in every Test match this year if his playing time is going to be strictly controlled until the 2027 World Cup.

It is expected that a shared leadership system will be implemented, and in this section, we examine the most likely candidates to assume the captain’s armband.