Stormers star set for 100th appearance after injury struggles

INTERVIEW: Leolin Zas is the finisher the Stormers can rely on. When an opportunity comes his way, the 30-year-old winger knows how to turn it into points – a quality that has helped him become one of the Capetonians’ most trusted attacking weapons.

On Friday, Zas will reach a major milestone when he makes his 100th appearance for the Stormers against Connacht in Galway as the Capetonians begin their United Rugby Championship campaign on the road.

It is a significant achievement for a player whose career has been anything but straightforward.

Zas began his rugby journey in Hermanus before representing Boland at the 2013 Under-18 Craven Week. He scored 18 points during the tournament, including a try against the Limpopo Blue Bulls, and his performances earned him selection for the South African Schools team.

He featured twice in the 2013 Under-18 International Series, helping South Africa to victories over France and Wales.

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After school, Zas joined the Western Province Rugby Institute and represented Western Province U19 in the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship. He scored five tries during the campaign and crossed the whitewash in the final against the Blue Bulls as Western Province claimed the title.

In 2015, Zas was selected for the South Africa Under-20 training squad and featured in warm-up matches against a Varsity Cup Dream Team and Argentina before earning selection for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.

He started all of South Africa’s pool matches, scoring against Samoa and Australia, before featuring in the third-place play-off against France as the Junior Springboks secured a bronze medal.

That same year, Zas made his Currie Cup debut for Western Province and also represented the Western Province U21 side.

His performances soon brought further recognition, with a call-up to the South Africa A squad for their 2016 series against the England Saxons.

Injuries then disrupted his progress. He missed the entire 2017 Super Rugby season before joining the Sharks ahead of the 2018 campaign.

He ultimately spent two seasons in Durban before returning to the Stormers, where he has gone on to establish himself as a key member of the squad.

His Stormers career began back in 2016 at Newlands against the Bulls. Almost a decade later, he is preparing to pull on the jersey for the 100th time.

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Looking back on his journey with the Stormers, Zas admits the significance of the milestone has yet to fully sink in.

“I think it must still kick in, but yeah, I’ve been with the Stormers for a long time. This is basically the only place that I know.

“I know I spent two years with the Sharks, but I’ve been with this team for years. I have a good relationship with the people around me, and I can’t wait for Friday.

“Obviously, it would have been ideal to have it at home, but what I’ve been through, I’ll take it with both hands. It’s up to me to make it special on Friday.”

Zas has also enjoyed something of a second chapter to his career in the URC.

After bursting onto the scene as a teenager, his career was interrupted by injuries before he found his feet again and became an increasingly important figure for the Stormers.

“I’m blessed to have another chance. Hopefully, I can take it further and spend another four or five years here.”

Considering where his career started – and the injury setbacks that at one stage made him question whether he would continue playing – reaching 100 Stormers appearances is a milestone Zas never took for granted.

“I thought about it last night and I was like, I never knew that this moment would actually come,” he said.

“For me, when you go through injuries and stuff like that, every minute on the field is a blessing. I won’t take that for granted.

“Obviously, credit to the coaches and everybody around me who believes in me and who put me on that field.”

There may be emotion when Zas runs out in Galway on Friday, but the focus will remain firmly on the job at hand.

“It will be maybe quite emotional later in the week, but I just have to go out there and give it my best.

“Hopefully, the team can make it special on Friday with a big W.”