Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 9, 2026

Aphelele Fassi

Aphelele Onke Okuhle Fassi is a South African professional rugby union player for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship and the Currie Cup. His regular position is wing or fullback.

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Aphelele Fassi
Fassi playing for the Sharks in 2023
Full nameAphelele Onke Okuhle Fassi
Born (1998-01-23) 23 January 1998
King William's Town, South Africa
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2+1⁄2 in)
Weight92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb)
SchoolDale College Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position Fullback / Wing
Current team Sharks / Sharks (Currie Cup)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018 Sharks XV 8 (24)
2018– Sharks (Currie Cup) 18 (20)
2019– Sharks 86 (146)
Correct as of 30 March 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021– South Africa 15 (35)
2022– South Africa 'A' 1 (5)
Correct as of 13 September 2025

Aphelele Onke Okuhle Fassi (born 23 January 1998) is a South African professional rugby union player for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship and the Currie Cup.1 His regular position is wing or fullback.

Club career

His professional career began in 2018 with the Natal Sharks in the Currie Cup.23 He was praised for his speed and technique and won the championship in his first season.4

International career

In June 2021, Aphelele Fassi was selected for the first time with the Springboks by Jacques Nienaber to prepare for the British Lions' tour of South Africa.5 He gets his first cap on July 2, 2021 against Georgia in Pretoria.67 This is his first international try.8 Later that year, he was selected to play in the Rugby Championship and played a match against Argentina, scoring another try.9 After this promising first international season, he is elected best young South African player for the year 2021.10

Honours

South Africa

Test match record

As of 13 September 2025
Opponent P W D L Try Pts %Won
 Argentina 3 2 0 1 4 20 66.67
 Australia 3 2 0 1 1 5 66.67
 England 1 1 0 0 0 0 100
 Georgia 2 2 0 0 1 5 100
 New Zealand 2 2 0 0 0 0 100
 Portugal 1 1 0 0 0 0 100
 Wales 3 2 0 1 1 5 66.67
Total 15 12 0 3 7 35 80

International tries

As of 23 November 2024
Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
1  Georgia Pretoria, South Africa Loftus Versfeld Stadium 2021 July tests 2 July 2021 Win 40–9
2  Argentina Gqeberha, South Africa Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium 2021 Rugby Championship 14 August 2021 Win 32–12
3  Australia Perth, Australia Perth Stadium 2024 Rugby Championship 17 August 2024 Win 12–30
4  Argentina Santiago del Estero, Argentina Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades 2024 Rugby Championship 21 September 2024 Loss 29–28
5  Argentina Mbombela, South Africa Mbombela Stadium 2024 Rugby Championship 28 September 2024 Win 48–7
6
7  Wales Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2024 Autumn Nations Series 23 November 2024 Win 12–45
References

References

  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Aphelele Fassi". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  2. "Sharks unearth 'special' youngster in Durban". www.news24.com. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  3. "A peek at Sharks future". rugby365.com. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  4. "Fassi has star power". www.sarugbymag.co.za. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  5. "Springboks name Lions series squad laden with World Cup winners, while Fassi, Dweba, Wiese called up". www.news24.com. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  6. "L'Afrique du Sud avec 18 champions du monde contre la Géorgie". www.rugbyrama.fr. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  7. "How Aphelele Fassi impressed Bok coach to earn debut after 'close contact' Mapimpi ruled out". www.news24.com. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  8. "Wonder wing Aphelele Fassi cherishes 'visualised' Bok try on Test debut". www.news24.com. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  9. "Nienaber hails 'unbelievably talented' Fassi". www.sarugbymag.co.za. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  10. "Aphelele Fassi: Sharks star searching for consistency after stellar year". www.planetrugby.com. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
External links