| Shakes Soyizwapi | |
| Fullname: | Siviwe Sonwabile Soyizwapi |
| Birth Date: | 1992 12, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Maclear, South Africa |
| School: | Dale College |
| Position: | Fullback/ Wing |
| Currentclub: | South Africa Sevens |
| Youthyears1: | 2010 |
| Youthyears2: | 2012–2013 |
| Years1: | 2012–2016 |
| Apps1: | 35 |
| Points1: | 45 |
| Years2: | 2013 |
| Apps2: | 6 |
| Points2: | 0 |
| Repyears1: | 2016–present |
| Repteam1: | South Africa Sevens |
| Repcaps1: | 89 |
| Reppoints1: | 280 |
| Clubupdate: | 9 October 2016 |
| Repupdate: | 15 November 2018 |
Siviwe Sonwabile 'Shakes' Soyizwapi (born 7 December 1992 in Maclear) is a South African rugby union player, who is currently contracted by the South African Rugby Union to play for the South Africa Sevens national team. His usual position is fullback or winger.
He played for the at the Under-18 Academy Week in 2010, earning a call-up to the South African Under-18 High Performance team before joining the Academy. He played for them at the Under-21 Provincial Championship level in 2012 and 2013, finishing the latter competition as the top try scorer.
He made his first class debut in the 2012 Currie Cup promotion/relegation series against the .[1] Three appearances followed in the 2013 Vodacom Cup (scoring one try), as well as five appearances in the 2013 Currie Cup First Division (where he scored three tries) before reverting to the U21 side for the remainder of the season.
[2] He was initially named in the squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season, but was later released to the 2013 Vodacom Cup squad. Having made just four first-team appearances, he was recalled to the Super Rugby squad following an injury to Hadleigh Parkes,[3] [4] and made his Super Rugby debut in the 28–28 draw against the in Canberra.[5] He made three starts and three substitute appearances during the 2013 season.
In June 2014, he was selected in the starting line-up for the side to face during a tour match during a 2014 incoming tour. He played the entire match and scored the first try for the Kings in the 57th minute of the match as the Kings suffered a 12–34 defeat.
Shortly before the start of their 2014 Super Rugby season, the signed Soyizwapi on a loan deal to provide cover for them at wing and full-back, following injuries to Cheslin Kolbe and Jaco Taute.[6] However, he returned to the Kings shortly afterwards.
In October 2013, Soyizwapi was called into a South Africa Sevens training squad before the 2013 Dubai Sevens.[7] In November 2015, he joined the South African Sevens team on a two-year contract.[8]
In December 2019, Soyizwapi captained the Blitzboks squad in the World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai. He led the South African Sevens team to the finals against the All Blacks Sevens, earning his very first gold medal with an emphatic 15-0 win on his birthday on 7 December.[9]
In 2022, He was part of the South African team that won their second Commonwealth Games gold medal in Birmingham.[10] [11] [12] [13]
He competed for South Africa at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[14] [15] They defeated Australia to win the bronze medal final.[16] [17]