Sadie’s French journey pays off with Springbok opportunity

Competing in one of the world’s toughest domestic competitions and training alongside some of the game’s leading forwards helped sharpen his technical skills and confidence.

The 27-year-old earned his first appearance in Springbok colours this past weekend when he started against the Barbarians in Gqeberha. 

Although the fixture did not carry Test status, it marked an important milestone in a career that has included spells with the Lions, Stormers and now French giants Bordeaux-Bègles.

"Getting the opportunity to go to France and learning a lot of the different ways they do things that side and playing against world-class players obviously strengthens my game. When you go there at first it's always tough because of the language barrier and the different culture, but I feel like it was a necessary step for me in my career to get some game time. The tighthead is only as good as the amount of minutes he played and scrums he's been in."

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The tighthead prop suffered a serious neck injury during a French Top 14 match against Lyon in January 2025, an injury that initially raised concerns about his long-term future in the game.

After undergoing extensive rehabilitation, Sadie returned to action and re-established himself as a key figure in Bordeaux’s pack. 

His performances throughout the season, including the club’s successful Investec Champions Cup campaign, earned him an invitation to his first Springbok alignment camp and ultimately a place in the national squad.

Sadie praised the support he received from his club during his recovery.

The former Lions and Stormers front-rower says he heard a lot about the intensity of Springbok scrum sessions, but experiencing them firsthand highlighted the standards required at international level.

"I've heard a lot of stories before, but this is the first time that I'm involved in the scrumming sessions, and I can definitely say it's no joke. They push you to the max, and I remember in the first one I went a little bit longer than I expected, and when I stood up I could just see the world around me become dark. Siya asked me if I'm okay and I said let's go again."

Sadie’s stock rose even further after helping Bordeaux-Bègles secure their first Investec Champions Cup title last month. The former Hoërskool Bellville learner started in the final as the French side produced a dominant display to defeat Leinster and claim European club rugby’s biggest prize.