David Ribbans is a perfect fit for the Boks

David Ribbans would comfortably slot into Rassie Erasmus’s Springboks squad.

At the Stade Mayol, starring for Toulon against the Stormers in the Investec Champions Cup last 16, Ribbans delivered a statement performance.

David Ribbans is a Bok in waiting – if he wants it

Ribbans was named Investec Champions Cup Player of the Match in Toulon’s dramatic 28-27 win. They travel to Glasgow for this weekend’s quarter-final.

Ribbans, born in Somerset West in the Western Cape, started his professional career at Western Province and the Stormers, but relocated to England, where he qualified to play for England through ancestry.

He played in the 2023 World Cup for England, but moved to Toulon after the World Cup. England’s selection policy excludes any players outside of the English Premiership, Prem Rugby, and Ribbans would have served a three year stand down period, given that his last Test for England was at the 2023 World Cup.

World Rugby’s amended eligibility rules allow for a player to represent two different countries, if a three-year stand down period has been served, and if that player qualifies through birth, citizenship or ancestry.

EPCR

Munster’s Jean Kleyn left the Stormers several years ago and qualified on residency for Ireland. He played in the 2019 World Cup under Joe Schmidt, but when Andy Farrell took over as Ireland coach he never selected lock forward Kleyn.

Erasmus picked Kleyn in 2023 for the Springboks, took him to the World Cup in France, and Kleyn is now a World Cup winner.

Ribbans, among the best second rowers in the Top 14 and Investec Champions Cup this season, has previously been asked about making himself available for the Springboks. He was not certain he would do so, in media interviews saying he felt that he had drawn a line in the sand with England, and owed it to England not to play for his country of birth should there be such an opportunity.

That interview was done at the beginning of 2025, and by the end of 2026 he may have had a change of heart, especially with England’s selection policy unlikely to change.

The 30 year-old Ribbans, who was in doubt for last Saturday’s against his old mates, which included WP under 20 locking partner JD Schiekerling, was colossal in his play and leadership. When subbed in the 76th minute, he was named the Player of the Match.

Ribbans’ career at a glance

Ribbons’ early career with Western Province & Stormers

In 2014, with Western Province U19, he went from bench to starter in a week and didn’t move. There was a decisive try in a 21–20 win against Eastern Province, nine wins from twelve in the league, and then the beating of Free State in the semi-final and the Bulls 33–26 in Cape Town in the final. 

2015 was the step up, with a Stormers pre-season run, a first-class debut for Western Province in the Vodacom Cup, and then back to the U21 competition. He played ten matches, scored a try in the semi-final against the Lions, and another in the final as Province put 52–17 on Free State in Johannesburg for back-to-back titles.

In 2016, he was in the Stormers squad but didn’t play. He played for WP under 21s and WP’s senior side.

*With the Stormers and Bulls eliminated in intense Last 16 Play-off matches, there is no South African club representation in this weekend’s Last Eight play-offs. But there are several South Africans still involved, as players and coaches.

Ribbans is one of them and Bath’s Springboks prop Thomas du Toit is another. Du Toit was outstanding in Bath’s win against Saracens and was named Player of the Match.

Du Toit is returning to the Sharks in South Africa at the completion of this season’s English Prem Rugby competition.

As many as 12 South African-born players and four South African-born coaches will be in action this weekend as the Investec Champions Cup gets narrowed to just four teams.

Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals (SA times)
Friday, 10 April
Bath vs Northampton Saints (9pm)
Saturday, 11 April 
Glasgow Warriors vs Toulon (4pm)
Leinster vs Sale Sharks (6:30pm)
Sunday, 12 April
Bordeaux Bègles vs Toulouse (4pm)