Stormers tighthead prop Sazi Sandi is set to reach a significant milestone this weekend, earning his 50th cap for the Cape side in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against Edinburgh.
Getting the opportunity in the starting line-up means Sandi will lead the team onto the field — just as he does almost every weekend when he leads the squad in song with their “war cry”, Impi yamaStormer, after victories at DHL Stadium.
Sandi’s Journey to Professional Rugby
As a prop, the 27-year-old might not typically be associated with singing, but just as he commands the scrum with authority, his voice carries powerfully through the stands. And the burly No. 3 will be hoping to do the same on Saturday as he celebrates his half-century of appearances.
But his journey to professional rugby very nearly didn’t happen. Sandi endured a long road, marked by injuries during his time in the Cape and before that, while also navigating his father Bonisile’s hopes for him to pursue a tertiary qualification and a more traditional career. His father, a lawyer and judge in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown), passed away in 2017.
According to the history of rugby union in South Africa, the sport has a significant following in the country, and Sandi’s journey is a testament to the dedication and perseverance required to succeed in the sport.
Overcoming Obstacles and Staying Focused
“My dad was a bit reluctant because of maybe a lack of knowledge and not understanding the rugby landscape in the early 2000s, and he didn’t see it as a career,” Sandi explained. “He was more focused on us growing up, going to university, getting a degree and finding a job. And he loved his job. He was very influential to us.
However, he could see that I was keen from a young age, and my brother also got into his ear, spoke to him, and he was excited that I was doing well — but he needed more information about it. At the end of matric, we visited a few unions and then came down to the Stormers. We got to Newlands, my dad asked all the questions he wanted, and he was sold — he became very excited.”
After that visit, Sandi and his father sat down to map out his path to the top — from U19 rugby all the way to the Springboks. It was a defining moment. “It was kind of my dad saying, ‘Go for it — and if you’re going to go for it, go for all of it’. He passed away shortly after that.
For more information on the Springboks and their history, visit the official South African Rugby Union website.
Being on 49 games, it would be great to look back on that story on Saturday and say, ‘Dad, I’m still on my way’,” Sandi added. “My dad was a very hard worker, and that rubbed off on me. As a youngster at school, during the holidays, I’d always go into town to train and do extras because I would see him at three o’clock in the morning in his study, working through his notes — always meticulous, always taking pride in what he did.
Here are some key facts about Sazi Sandi’s career:
- 50th cap for the Stormers
- Playing in the United Rugby Championship
- Leading the team in song with the “war cry”
On Saturday, Sandi will have the chance to test himself against Scotland loosehead Pierre.
