South African Schoolboy Rugby Star Josh Neill Set for Leinster Move

• South African U18 rugby star Josh Neill is set to move abroad at the end of the year
• He had a standout season, captaining his provincial side and earning top honours at a major tournament
• Neill is eligible to play internationally elsewhere and follows a family connection already in European sports

South Africa’s U18 sensation Josh Neill is set to make the move to Ireland at the end of the year after securing a place in the Leinster Rugby Academy, confirmed by academy manager Simon Broughton.

The dynamic loose forward, currently finishing matric at Rondebosch Boys’ High School, qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents and will form part of Leinster’s Year One intake.

Neill has been one of the standout players of 2025. He captained Western Province at the prestigious U18 Craven Week, where he walked away with Player of the Tournament honours, before turning out for the South Africa U18 side in clashes against France, Ireland, and England during the International Series.

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Strong family roots in Ireland

Josh is not the first in his family to make the switch. His older brother, Jordan Neill, 20, already represents Ireland in cricket, having debuted for the national team in an ODI against the West Indies earlier this year. With such strong Irish ties, Josh had long been tracked by the IRFU’s IQ programme.

His arrival in Dublin means he will now share a professional environment with fellow South Africans Jacques Nienaber and RG Snyman, a move seen as both a coup for Leinster and a blow for South African rugby’s next generation.

Although Leinster’s development system continues to supply players to both their senior squad and the Ireland team, the province has not been as strong in producing top-level back row prospects compared to other positions in recent years. At present, there is only one back row player in their academy ranks.

As seen in the tweet below:

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Rugby continues to thrive as a grassroots sport in South Africa

Rugby in South Africa is a deeply loved sport, embraced by millions, with many children falling in love with it at a young age.

In July, a primary school pupil from Rietkuil Primary School, Zedan Johnson, caught the attention of social media users with his incredible runs and footwork. His performances have reportedly put him on the radar of several rugby scouts.

Zedan impressed while playing alongside his peers at one of the country’s most competitive school rugby tournaments.

This grassroots talent reflects the strong foundation of rugby in South Africa, evident in the success of the Junior Boks, who triumphed over the Baby All Blacks at the Under-20 Rugby World Cup in July and became world junior champions. The ongoing historic achievements of the women’s Springboks at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in the USA.

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Watch the video below:

Rugby coach’s words to heartbroken player inspire SA

Briefly News previously reported that a short video of an under-16 rugby coach offering words of encouragement to a heartbroken player has touched South Africans, highlighting the enduring impact of mentorship.

The clip, filmed on the sidelines of Lichtenburg High School, shows coach Mr Bok speaking to a visibly disappointed player after a match.

With slumped shoulders and downcast eyes, the boy appeared weighed down by defeat, until Mr Bok’s words shifted the moment.

Source: Briefly News