MARK KEOHANE is blown away by the remarkable journey of Italy loose forward Ross Vintcent, the least known of four South Africans featuring in the 2025 Six Nations.
Vintcent is set to earn his 10th Test cap off the bench at Murrayfield when Italy and Scotland clash in their championship opener. Compatriots Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe, Scotland’s record try-scorer, will run out for the hosts.
Hooker Rob Herring, originally from Cape Town and schooled at the famed SACS in Newlands, is expected to feature for Ireland as part of the reigning Six Nations champions’ wider playing group.
Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane describes Vintcent’s path as both radical and romantic – born in Johannesburg, raised in Dubai, and schooled at Bishops in Cape Town, the 23-year-old has taken an unconventional route to Test rugby.
Keohane notes that despite playing mostly in the backline at school, Vintcent shifted to the back row after joining Italy’s national academy, qualifying through his maternal grandfather.
KEO: Stories about SA’s heroes must never stop
He made his Test debut in 2023 against Ireland and ended the year as Italy’s starting No 8 against the All Blacks.
According to Keohane, Vintcent’s move to English club Exeter Chiefs played a crucial role in his development. He also captained the Italy U20s to victory over England, despite initially delivering team talks through Google Translate.
“Ross Vintcent’s rugby story is as radical as it is romantic,” Keohane writes. “Vintcent is a Test loose forward for Italy, but on leaving Bishops and Cape Town at the end of 2020, he had only ever played one match as a forward in his entire schools career.
“Now he is on the verge of his 10th Test cap, with Italy’s Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield, where two South Africans await the challenge of the Azzurri.
“What a story.”
Photo: Timothy Rogers/Getty Images
