PUMA has signed Springbok prop forward Thomas du Toit.

Mar 3 • British & Irish Lions, General News, South Africa, South Africa U18, Springboks, Springboks by School, Super Rugby, Super Rugby Fixtures, Super Rugby Logs, Super Rugby Results, The Rugby Championship, Tournament Rules • 8 Views • Comments Off on PUMA has signed Springbok prop forward Thomas du Toit.

PUMA has signed Springbok prop forward Thomas du Toit.

Du Toit, nicknamed The Tank, will play in PUMA’s new Avant Pro II, the latest evolution of its technical rugby boot engineered for the tight-five and which can be spotted on the feet of leading players including Bongi Mbonambi, Gerhard Steenekamp, Ruan Nortje, Franco Mostert, Lood De Jager, Johan Grobbelaar, Trevor Nyakane, Marnus van der Merwe, Vincent Koch, JF van Heerden, Sanelisiwe Charlie, Jaco Grobbelaar, and Ruben van Heerden.

“We are proud to add The Tank to our growing family of world class rugby players. As a force in both provincial and global arenas, he will drive market visibility of the PUMA Avant Pro II which was specifically Built for the Bind. As a dominating prop he will demonstrate the technical features of the boot, focusing on traction, power and stability,” said Brett Bellinger, Marketing Director for PUMA SA.

Du Toit, who has 32 Bok caps, is a Rugby World Cup and Rugby Championship winner. While at club and provincial level he has over 100 senior appearances across Super Rugby and domestic competitions. He also gained valuable overseas experience in Ireland and France, before signing with Bath Rugby in the English Premiership in 2023 and establishing himself as one of the league’s most influential forwards, scoring consistently as a powerful ball carrier.

Following this successful period in England, Du Toit confirmed his return to South Africa, and will re join the Hollywoodbets Sharks for the 2026/27 season, citing family priorities and a desire to contribute to South African rugby at home.

Thomas du Toit discusses his rugby origins, playing for Bath and being teased by his kids.

Why rugby? My love for rugby grew as I got older. I was definitely not born into it as no one in my family was ever interested in sport so it came much later than for most people.
What is it about rugby and your old school Paarl Boys High? It’s a school that prides themselves in everything that they do, especially when it comes to rugby. There is loads of tradition and that adds to the rugby culture that PBH has created over the years.
Why prop? I was always just the biggest kid in the school so I got put in that position from a young age. My first school, Dirkie Uys in Moorreesburg is very small so it was very clear cut that the biggest kid would play prop.
What skills are required to be a world class prop? I think these days the dynamics of a prop are changing. You have to be as mobile around the park as you are solid in the set piece. It’s a tall order and requires loads of hard work.
Which boots do you play in? I’ve been testing the PUMA Avant boots for the last couple of weeks, so I am very excited to play my first game with them in the Prem.
What attracted you to join the PUMA family? For a long time I’ve been very intrigued by the caring vibe I saw towards all the PUMA players. From the outside it looked like the service was second to none and now I’ve seen first-hand how true that is. The Avant Pro boot is also exceptional, being a designated front row boot.
Which opponent is the most challenging to play against? Owen Franks. When I was starting out I played against him when he was still at the Crusaders. I remember how tough he was in the scrums, not being able to move him and that he was such a workhorse around the park.
Your goals for the season? I want to play the best quality rugby I can. It’s been a great season with Bath and the Boks and I would love to continue that form.
When you watch rugby are you just a fan or are you at work studying other teams and players? I try to switch off when I watch rugby, so more of a supporter than a student.
Which former Springboks would you have loved to play alongside? I would have loved to play with Pat Lambie. We played a couple of games together at the Sharks but never got the chance to play together at international level.
Tell us about your time at Bath? It is one of the highlights of my career and some of the best seasons of my life. We have really enjoyed our time there and have been truly blessed by the people around us.
Would you encourage younger players to experience rugby at an overseas club? Absolutely. There is a different world out there that is so exciting, full of challenges and amazing people. I wish that experience for all players although I will say there is a time for everything, so don’t rush it.
You are active on Instagram – what type of content do you share with fans? Rugby content mixed in with some raw normal life content.
Your IG handle is thomasthetank – what do your children think of your nickname? I got the nickname when I first played at the Sharks. My kids love it, and call me it when they want to tease me. It’s fun, I do enjoy it.