Lukhanyo Am

South African professional rugby union player Lukhanyo Am plays for the United Rugby Championship’s Sharks as well as the South Africa national squad. He typically plays centre and wing. After a successful stint at Southern Kings, Am had high standards to live up to. He did not let the Sharks down and was instrumental in getting them to the quarterfinals in the Super Rugby seasons of 2017, 2018, and 2019. Am took Tendai Mtawarira’s place as captain of the Sharks for the 2020 Super Rugby season in January of that year.

On the international stage, Am was chosen to play for the South African Barbarians against Saracens in London in 2013. He was a member of the South Africa ‘A’ squad in 2016 that competed in a two-match series against the visiting England Saxons team. In their first game in Bloemfontein, he was substituted in. The visitors ultimately won the game 32-24. For the second game of the series, a 26-29 loss to the Saxons in George, he was elevated to the starting lineup.

For the match on July 14, 2021, against the British and Irish Lions, Am was selected as South Africa ‘A’ captain. He was a member of the South African team for the 2017 year-end international rugby union matches. Am was selected for South Africa’s 2019 Rugby World Cup team. South Africa prevailed over England in the championship match to claim victory. Am was an integral part of the Springboks’ campaign, appearing in six of the team’s seven games. In the Rugby World Cup final, he helped set up South Africa’s opening try.