Ethan Hooker has a little secret. It’s not a secret that would devastate a nation ... and indeed, if you followed his high school career, you would know that it’s not much of a secret at all.
During his younger days playing for Westville Boys' High School in Durban, Hooker once packed down at eighthman for "70 minutes" by his reckoning. It is an interesting titbit that, if Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus knew about — which Hooker believes he doesn't — would certainly pique the former's interest.
It’s easy to understand why. Over the last two Tests in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry between the Springboks and the All Blacks, Erasmus has selected the burly André Esterhuizen as his flank cover on the bench, with the 32-year-old centre sporting the No 20 jersey.
Esterhuizen is part of a "Hybrid Theory" that Erasmus and Co are developing as they seek maximum utility and versatility, especially amongst their replacements, to cover as many positions as possible.
That would have been noted in other selections for this past Saturday’s second Test in Cape Town, with Deon Fourie chosen as the hooker replacement even though he is preferred as a flank; prop Thomas du Toit who can pack down on both sides of the scrum; and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who can cover flyhalf, the midfield and fullback.
Meanwhile, Hooker and his Sharks teammate Esterhuizen share a handful of similarities. Hooker is slightly taller at 1.93m, while Esterhuizen is much heavier, but they are both defined by their strength, power and explosive pace.
Before the second Test, the 23-year old could only chuckle to himself when asked about his brief foray into the forward pack, and whether Erasmus knew of it.
"I've never spoken to him about it," Hooker said, laughing. "But maybe I should, hey? No, I'm just teasing.
"There was actually a very good No 12 at my school at the time," he added, thinking back to his No 8 cameo. "So, my coach came up with a plan — he sort of wanted eight backs and seven forwards. I only really scrummed at No 8. But COVID-19 actually hit, so I was only No 8 for one game, but I was a No 8 nonetheless."
Although a playful jest on his part, Hooker pragmatically insisted that he would play and do whatever is required of him to help the Boks remain amongst the best teams in the world.
Said Hooker: "Wherever (Erasmus) needs me, I'll play prop if I have to, you know?
"I think everyone's in that same mindset. We've all got a similar goal, and whatever we can do to help the team get to that goal, we'll do it."
In many respects, Hooker has had a testing 2026. The unexpected passing of his father, Craig, earlier this year remains a difficult and emotional period on a personal level, while a serious shoulder injury blighted his professional aspirations.
Hooker, who was honoured earlier this year as the SA Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year, makes no bones about the role his father played in his development and how difficult the loss continues to be. Coming from a close-knit family, Hooker revealed that his first mentor in life and on the rugby field was his father.
"My dad mentored me a lot on what's right and what's wrong," Hooker said. "He gave me that fight and that hunger to achieve more in life.
"It's definitely hard coping with the loss. I think being in an environment where I'm so close to my family, and they understand and they're there to back me, it makes it a lot easier.
"Travelling a bit and obviously staying focused on rugby and stuff helps a bit more, but it remains tough. It's hard to see what is happening at home when I'm not there with them."
On the field, meanwhile, Hooker was forced onto the sidelines for 11 weeks after dislocating his shoulder while playing for the Sharks against Ospreys in April. Having just touched down a long-range try for his club in the United Rugby Championship at Brewery Field in that game, the hosts’ Luke Morgan dived onto Hooker’s back, resulting in the injury.
Many considered the challenge a "dogshot", slamming both Morgan and the match officials for not sanctioning the play. In the moment, Hooker's reaction revealed a justified anger, but the long-term effects were arguably even more difficult to come to terms with.
"The biggest thing for me was to get over it, as it is a huge mental game," Hooker said. "I remember the first thing I thought of was, 'How many games am I going to miss?' That's the big question I ask myself."
In this, Hooker was magnanimous, regarding the role the Sharks played in his recovery.
"They've got such good facilities, such good physios — they really helped me come back," Hooker said, while explaining that the injury normally takes between 12 and 14 weeks to fully heal. "I came back a few weeks early because of them."
Nonetheless, the return to action so quickly after such a serious injury reveals an important facet of Hooker’s drive, and a mental fortitude that could define his career at both franchise and Test level.
"It was important accepting that, look, this is what happened, I need to go for an operation, and that it's going to better me in the longer run," Hooker said.
"The only thing I could do was take it day-by-day, get my rehab done, do as many extras as I could, and just strengthen it to make sure that by the time I came back, I wouldn't be thinking about it.
"If I'm in the game and I'm thinking, 'Let me try to hide my left shoulder, I need to tackle with my right,' I don't want to be in that kind of situation. So, I tried to make the most of my reovery every single day to make sure that I came back stronger and with confidence again.
"You start by trying to shower, and mobility is a huge thing," he added, revealing that after the operation his arm mobility was just below chest height.
"You're scared, and you sort of try to protect it. The biggest thing to realise is that it's actually stronger because of the operation, and that the bone has healed over the joint.
"You just have to back it, you have to start making hits, and you feel like, 'Okay, it's not too bad,' and then you slowly take it up a notch — more contact, more contact, and then 'live' contact. And then all of a sudden, you get your confidence back, and now I don't think twice about it."
Hooker’s journey over the past year proves he possesses far more than just the physical tools demanded by top-flight rugby. Through personal tragedy, severe injury, and the tactical demands of the professional game, he has shown maturity well beyond his years.
In whatever role Erasmus calls on him, Hooker has already demonstrated he has the heart, hunger and resilience to thrive on rugby’s biggest stage.