4. Aphiwe Dyantyi
South African winger Aphiwe Dyantyi is set to make his return to rugby for the 2023/24 season, as he has agreed a recent deal with the Cell C Sharks in the United Rugby Championship. Dyantyi has not been seen on a rugby pitch since the 2019 Super Rugby season, as he received a four year ban after testing positive for illegal substances just two months before the 2019 Rugby World Cup began.
Dyantyi tested positive for metandienone, methyltestosterone and LDG-4033, all of which are substances on WADA’s banned list. Considered to rival legendary winger Bryan Habana for the title of ‘fastest ever Springbok’, Dyantyi was hitting top gear ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, yet his failed drugs test ruled him out of the trip to Japan. Dyantyi would have been a phenomenal addition to Rassie Erasamus’ side who went on to become World Champions that year.
Dyantyi’s break-out came in 2018, as he lit up Super Rugby with the Emirates Lions, before storming onto the international stage with five tries in six Rugby Championship games. The 28-year-old’s ‘all rugby’ ban expires next month, however Jacques Nienaber has not considered Dyantyi in any preparations ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Despite making his return ahead of the competition, Dyantyi’s name has been left off the list for the ‘Bok’s wider training group. Dyantyi is undoubtedly a thrilling on-field talent, but his name certainly carries an unwanted asterisk. When Dyantyi makes his return in the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship, it will be interesting to see if he still performs up to his last-remembered standards, or if the extended time-off has hindered his impact on the pitch.