In the vast green cathedral of South African rugby, where Test caps are earned like military stripes and dreams often flicker out in the shadows of giants, Edwill van der Merwe is preparing to write a second stanza to a story many feared had already reached its quiet, lonely end.
One year and one month. That’s how long it has taken the fleet-footed wing from Stellenbosch to claw his way back into Springbok green after lighting up Twickenham in 2024 like a firecracker on a moonless night. His try against Wales that day was a poetic entrance, a dazzling opening act that promised more… but cruelly, nothing followed. Until now.
“My biggest goal was to play for the Boks, and I got that opportunity,” Van der Merwe says, the resolve thick in his voice.
“But at the same time, what I didn’t want was to be a one-cap Bok. So, by the grace of God, one year and a month later, I am getting that opportunity.”
For many, a single Test jersey becomes a museum relic, framed on a wall alongside memories of what could’ve been. For Van der Merwe, it was a motivational itch he refused to stop scratching.
From Spark to Setback
Rugby, like life, is rarely a straight sprint. More often, it’s a game of bruising detours and battered resolve. After that breakthrough in London, Van der Merwe looked set to step into the Bok back-three rotation. But fate, the great disruptor of well-laid plans, had other ideas.
He was overlooked for the incoming series against Ireland. Then came the Lions recall, the ankle injury, and a cruel three-month layoff. Just when the green and gold looked within grasp again, the finish line vanished into the mist.
“I played that game against Wales last year in London and then… I didn’t get selected for the first Test against Ireland. I was released for the second to get some game time with the Lions,” he recalls.
“Unfortunately, it was while playing for the Lions that I injured my ankle… so I was denied any further opportunity to play for the Boks during the home season.”
He recovered in time for the end-of-year tour—fit but forgotten.
Wings in a Cage of Gold
Edwill van der Merwe: “It’s a privilege being back in the team and to get the opportunity to play” 🔥#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 10, 2025
In a Springbok environment rich with airborne artisans, breaking through as a winger is a bit like trying to catch a high ball between two eagles. Kolbe and Arendse don’t just own the skies—they dance in them.
But Van der Merwe doesn’t flinch in their long shadows. He respects the thunder but walks his own lightning path.
“What a privilege it is to train against those guys day in and day out,” he says.
“They are probably the top two wings in the world right now. Everyone helps each other… they’re an inspiration. But I’m not out to top them. It’s just about being myself.”
And what is “himself”? Explosive off the mark, elusive like mist over Newlands in winter, and confident enough to stake a unique claim in a dynasty of difference-makers.
“I think I’ve been selected in this group for something I bring uniquely as well. It’s about expressing myself and just doing my job in the system.”
From Lion to Shark – and back to Bok
His path has zigzagged more than a winger in open space. From his first-class debut for Western Province in 2016 to Super Rugby with the Stormers in 2019, then four dynamic years at the Lions, where he was often their brightest flame. Now, he’s shifted coastlines, having moved to Durban to join the Sharks.
“I’ve already moved to Durban, and it was on the Sharks’ training field at Kings Park that I trained in preparation for this time with the Boks,” he says.
It’s in the salt air of Durban that Van der Merwe sharpened his tools for the second shot. No longer the rookie of Twickenham, he is a hardened professional now preparing to don the Bok jersey on home soil for the first time. And what better place than Gqeberha’s Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, a coliseum where the spirit of Madiba lingers and legends are reborn?
Studying the Enemy by Becoming the Enemy
Last week, Van der Merwe played Italy… in disguise. As one of the ‘dirt-trackers’ preparing the first-choice squad, he ran the Italians’ lines, studied their shapes, and wore their boots in training.
“The nice thing is that last week we were Italy. We ran as Italy against the starting team, and it helps us this week to know what is coming,” he says with a wry grin.
“But knowing what is coming and stopping it are two different things.”
There’s wisdom in those words. Experience hard-earned through injury, rejection, and months in the rugby wilderness.
“What is important is that we need to be in the right mindset. Both them and us will probably add a lot more physicality this week… So it will be a big challenge for me and for us as a team.”
Veteran Wings to Lift a Rising One
In rugby’s great relay, sometimes the baton is passed through mentorship. And Van der Merwe knows he’s in good company this Saturday, with 100-Test warrior Willie le Roux guiding from the back and 46-cap predator Makazole Mapimpi flanking the other side.
“A guy like Willie brings a lot of experience, and Mapimpi has helped me a lot with the small areas of my game,” Van der Merwe says.
“It’s just about leaning on those guys for advice and some tricks of the trade. They’ve been there and done that… so playing with them gives me a lot of confidence.”
And in attack? The Springboks have sprinkled stardust in the backline. Manie Libbok, the maestro, orchestrates. Canan Moodie, all youth and spark, lurks. And Edwill waits on the wing, a powder keg with a fuse just begging to be lit.
“It is very exciting to be playing with guys like that,” he says. “If everything goes well, there should be a lot of ball coming my way… and hopefully opportunities to attack.”
Redemption Run
For Edwill van der Merwe, Saturday’s clash against Italy is more than just another cap. It’s a rite of renewal. A statement of belonging. A homecoming and a reckoning. He’s no longer the new kid with potential; he’s the seasoned sprinter ready to prove he never should’ve been benched.
And as his parents make the journey from Cape Town to Gqeberha, hearts full and eyes wide, they’ll witness more than a son’s Test on home turf. They’ll see the culmination of grit, grace, and God-given gift—finally getting another run in green and gold.
Not as a one-cap wonder. But as a Springbok with wings—and unfinished business.
