Ethan Hooker is open to exploring a hybrid role with the Springboks, having considered himself more as a forward playing in the backs anyway.

The 23-year-old rocketed onto the international scene in 2025, coming off the bench against the All Blacks at Eden Park in his first cap in Green and Gold before starting on the wing a week later in a record victory in Wellington.

He made another six appearances for Rassie Erasmus’ side throughout the year and earned a nomination for the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award.

He was beaten to that gong by New Zealand’s Fabian Holland, but did pick up the illustrious SA Rugby Young Player of the Year award on Thursday.

“That feeling never goes away.”

Speaking at the event after receiving the honour, Hooker remained humble by thanking his Springbok teammates and the coaching staff.

I’m super privileged,” he said.

I want to say thank you to all the coaching staff, management, and all the players that I had alongside me, I wouldn’t be able to do without them.”

Still, the feeling of being a Springbok remains new to him and something he still hasn’t quite got used to.

“It’s all the sacrifices that you’ve made up until that point,” he said, reflecting on his debut season.

“It takes huge amounts of commitment and effort to get to that point in your career and putting that jersey on, sums it up and just says like everything that you’ve done for in this moment is it’s all worth it.

“It’s a huge honour, a huge privilege and that feeling never goes away.”

Another success story from the Springboks’ 2025 season was Andre Esterhuizen’s double-jobbing as a centre and flanker option for Erasmus’ charges. The 31-year-old enjoyed a massive uptick in appearances, particularly from the bench, operating in a hybrid role for the South Africans.

Future as a hybrid player?

Hooker is of a similar build to his Sharks teammate, with the duo both standing around 193/194cm tall, but the youngster is around 15kgs lighter.

During his first international season, he featured on the wing and in the centres, switching seamlessly between the roles, but would he consider having a crack at playing in the pack?

I don’t have any preferences,” Hooker said when asked if he would consider following Esterhuizen’s lead.

 RUGBY

I play wherever the coach needs me, wherever the team needs me.

At the end of the day, if they want me to play there, I’m more than happy to play there. I’ve always described myself as a bit of a forward playing in the backline. I like the dirty work.

So I’m more than keen and more open to the opportunity, but it’s out of my hands.”

His playing style and approach to the game follows a similar theme.

“I’ve always seen myself as someone that’s going to work for the team, put some respect back and some power back into that badge,” he added.

I mean, that jersey I put on represents a lot more than just myself and at the end of the day, if I’m not putting in a better place, then I mean, I’m not doing the jersey justice.

Every game is just as big as the next. I try to go out and just give it everything. I wouldn’t really be happy with myself if I didn’t. And I’d rather know after the game that I’ve given everything. Even a visit isn’t a good game, than go out and just not give that jersey everything that it deserves.