The Rise of Jaco Williams: A Pocket Rocket Making All the Right Moves
- SA Rugby Hub
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
From Glenwood Classrooms to Springbok Contention. The Lightning Winger's Meteoric Ascent
At 1.75 metres and 72 kilograms, Jaco Williams is not the profile you'd typically circle on a scouting report. Yet the Glenwood schoolboy has emerged as a rare talent in South Africa's junior rugby system, a player whose explosive ability and finishing suggest the Springboks have genuinely identified something special. His rise from schoolboy rugby to potential Test rugby has been remarkably fast, and it's caught plenty of rugby observers by surprise. The question now isn't whether Williams can play at the highest level, but when the Springboks will use him, and what obstacles he'll face getting there.
Forging the Foundation: The Glenwood Blueprint
Williams' emergence didn't come from nowhere. Glenwood High School in Durban has a strong rugby pedigree within South African schoolboy rugby. The school has produced more than 46 KZN Schools Craven Week representatives since 2000, along with five South African Schools players, a contribution that arguably exceeds any rival province. The school's rugby traditions run deep. Its legendary 1965 side played 14 and won 14, with a points differential of 233, and that legacy still resonates today. More recently, Glenwood has captured the best rugby school award in KZN for four consecutive cycles, though the school has dropped from its dominant years of the past.
Within that competitive environment, Williams stood out through a mix of physicality and technical skill. His 2023 schoolboy season, his final year, earned him early professional attention, despite his slight build. The Durban schoolboy rugby circuit, competitive as it is, recognised in Williams something different, a player whose footwork, decision-making, and try-finishing went beyond what you'd normally see at that level. Yet this early attention would prove early; Williams' real test came at the next level.
The U20 Breakthrough: Championship Gold and Real Legitimacy
Williams' move through South Africa's age-grade system happened fast. When the Junior Springboks arrived for the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy, Williams wasn't necessarily pencilled in as a starter. In fact, had Siya Ndlozi not suffered a hamstring tear early in the tournament, Williams might have stayed on the bench. Instead, opportunity came calling, and he took it.
What happened in Italy went well beyond a typical U20 tournament. South Africa's 2025 squad, under coach Kevin Foote, played with cohesion and attacking rugby that reminded people of their last championship win in 2012. Williams became central to that success. Over the tournament, he scored five tries in five matches, making him one of the competition's best finishers. But tries alone don't tell the full story of what he contributed.
Against Australia in the pool stage, Williams intercepted midfield and accelerated past retreating defenders for a try that showed his awareness. But his performance against Scotland, a 73-14 demolition where the Junior Boks played with almost total control, really showed what he could do. He scored twice. His first try was pure brilliance: starting inside his own 22-metre area, he jumped high to catch a Scottish attacking kick, then accelerated across the entire field. That 80-metre solo effort announced his arrival as something special. The second try, in the 16th minute, showed his positioning and predatory instinct.
In the championship final against New Zealand, an unbeaten side coming in, Williams kept his level up. The Junior Springboks won 20-10, claiming their first U20 world title since 2012. Williams was crucial to that win, showing what analysts called "immense hustle", leading at pace, contesting breakdowns, and handling the pressure like a player years older. He got an 8.5/10 rating, recognition that went beyond just junior rugby and suggested he could perform under Test match intensity.
The Sharks Move: Senior Rugby and Making an Impact
The typical path from U20 success to professional rugby involves an apprenticeship at franchise level, months or years of squad rotation and limited minutes. Williams' path has been much faster. Signed by the Sharks for the 2024-2025 season, he was initially earmarked for Currie Cup development. Instead, within months, the URC, the most competitive club competition around, gave him game time.
That step up matters. The URC's backlines are packed with international quality: world-class centres and wings playing at franchise level, breakdowns at Test match pace, defensive systems honed through European and southern hemisphere competition. Yet Williams, playing for the Hollywoodbets Sharks in 2025-26, hasn't just survived that environment, he's impressed. Playing alongside established Test operators like Makazole Mapimpi, Aphelele Fassi, and Lukhanyo Am, he's absorbed elite rugby without the usual long learning curve.
His Sharks outings show maturity beyond his years. In a recent URC game, he played 56 minutes with a try, one clean break, two defenders beaten, and 15 metres gained, numbers that show real contribution at the top level. The Sharks coaching staff have backed him with regular opportunities, a vote of confidence that suggests they see what everyone else is starting to notice.
The Competitive Landscape: A Wing Position in Flux
This is where things get complicated for Williams. His emergence coincides with major change in South African wing rugby. For the past decade, the Springboks have built their backlines around Cheslin Kolbe, a player whose status goes beyond just his position. His consistency at the top level has been world-class. Alongside him, Mapimpi has operated as a double Rugby World Cup winner whose experience and intelligence are still formidable, despite his age.
But time moves on. Kolbe, at 33, remains competitive but is entering an age where international rugby's typical longevity gets uncertain. Mapimpi, at 37, is starting to show signs of senior years. Recent reports mention discipline issues and occasional defensive lapses, things that would have been unusual for him before. The Springboks know they need to build the next generation of wings while the current ones are still operating.
The emerging wing prospects make for tough competition. Cheswill Jooste, a Bulls prospect, has shown try-scoring instinct and movement patterns similar to Kolbe's. Analysts have noticed similarities in how they play. Jooste's U20 World Championship performance was solid, and his move to senior rugby with the Bulls has looked promising enough that Springbok selection seems a matter of when, not if. Canan Moodie has already broken into Test rugby. At 22, he's already got Springbok caps and can play wing or centre. Given his trajectory, more Test rugby is clearly coming his way.
The wing competition doesn't stop there. Kurt-Lee Arendse, at 29, remains a potent force despite recent injury setbacks. A former Blitzbok who transitioned to Test rugby in 2022, Arendse has scored 17 tries in 23 Tests, a remarkable strike rate that makes him one of South Africa's most dangerous finishers. However, a hamstring and knee injury suffered in August 2025 kept him sidelined through the latter part of the international season, missing the Argentina double-header and the New Zealand clash at Eden Park. His recovery timeline remains uncertain, though the Bulls are managing his return carefully. When fit, Arendse remains a genuine Springbok option, but injury uncertainty has opened space in the wing rotation that Williams and others are keen to fill. Edwill van der Merwe, who recently moved from the Lions to the Sharks, showed enough quality on debut for Wales (Man of the Match) to indicate the second tier of options has genuine substance. Grant Williams, also at the Sharks, adds another layer to the mix.
Williams' Position: Talent, Timing, and Reality
Within this highly competitive landscape, Williams is in an interesting spot. His credentials, a U20 world championship, five tries in a championship tournament, established URC minutes, should put him on the edge of Springbok consideration. Yet the pathway to Test rugby, even for talented players, is crowded. Timing, injuries, and what the selection committee thinks determines outcomes as much as raw ability.
The case for bringing Williams in quickly centres on a few things. First, his age and trajectory suggest he'll be developing through the 2027 Rugby World Cup cycle and beyond. Earlier Test exposure, even limited minutes, would speed up his integration. Second, his size isn't the limitation it once might have been. Kolbe, the benchmark for modern wing play, weighs just 76 kilograms. Jooste and Williams operate at similar weights. The link between size and wing effectiveness has clearly weakened in modern rugby, replaced by pace, decision-making, and positioning.
Third, the Sharks' backline setup offers real development opportunity. Training and playing alongside Mapimpi and Fassi means he's absorbing knowledge daily. If injuries hit either of them, Williams would step in with mentorship and tactical support around him. The franchise has invested heavily in their backline for 2026, showing real commitment to competing at Europe's elite level, an environment that will speed his development.
The Challenges: Opportunity, Versatility, and the Jump to Test Rugby
But there are real obstacles to Williams' Springbok progression. First is simple: Test rugby doesn't have many matches. International windows are limited. The Springboks' coaching staff know they have the 2027 World Cup coming and responsibility to stay competitive now. They'll prioritise established players or those showing Test match readiness.
Second, positional versatility matters. Williams plays left wing, but modern rugby increasingly demands flexibility, the ability to operate at fullback or right wing depending on what's needed. A specialist left winger, while useful, may find opportunity harder than someone who can move around the back three.
Third, the jump from U20 rugby to Test rugby is real, however talented you are. Junior world championships are great development, but they're a different level. Test rugby's defensive systems, tactical depth, and collision intensity operate at a remove from junior rugby. Williams' move to URC rugby showed he can step up, but Test rugby is another leap again. Mistakes at Test level cost matches. Intercepts, defensive breakdowns that lead to tries, these matter far more than they do in junior rugby.
Conclusion: A Prospect Worth Watching
Jaco Williams is the kind of rugby prospect that gets people talking. His rise from Glenwood through a U20 championship to URC rugby has been fast, impressive, and shows maturity that suggests his best years are ahead. His size hasn't held him back and looks increasingly normal at the elite level.
The Springboks will probably bring Williams into their Test setup before 2027, whether as an alignment camp player, squad cover, or ultimately a regular option. His trajectory suggests he'll make an impact when he arrives rather than remain a fringe player. The coaching staff will need to find the right timing for his integration while managing their current squad and preparation for immediate Tests.
What's clear is that Williams' story has moved beyond junior rugby promise. He's shown enough across multiple levels to suggest his potential goes well beyond what you'd normally expect at his age and stage. In a wing position where South Africa needs to balance their current strengths with emerging talent, Williams has put himself firmly in the conversation. The 2027 World Cup will show whether his promise becomes sustained Test rugby excellence. But everything so far suggests he's capable of doing exactly that.
Jaco Williams' story is still being written. But the chapters so far have been compelling enough to suggest South African rugby has found something genuinely special. In the current wing landscape's depth, that's recognition worth the highest attention.