From meeting Nelson Mandela to captaining Scotland, Kyle Steyn’s rugby journey is anything but ordinary.
Born in Johannesburg, Steyn spent the first 24 years of his life in South Africa before making a life-changing move to the UK in 2018, joining Glasgow Warriors. Eligible through his Scottish-born mother, he has since earned 33 caps for Scotland and established himself as one of the country’s standout backs. His form during the recent Six Nations saw him named in several teams of the tournament.
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Now, he finds himself back in South Africa for a major BKT URC showdown as table-topping Glasgow face second-placed DHL Stormers in Cape Town — a match that brings his story full circle.
Steyn credits his upbringing in South Africa for shaping his approach to the game.
“You are in an intensely competitive environment from a really young age,” he said. “If you don’t work hard, someone else takes your place.”
His family played a major role in his development. His mother Gillian, originally from Glasgow, provided his link to Scotland, while his father Rory served as head of Nelson Mandela’s presidential protection unit.
That connection gave Steyn rare experiences.
“I was lucky enough to meet him a few times,” Steyn said of Mandela. “Even when he was incredibly busy, he always made time for people. That humility really stuck with me.”
From South Africa To Scotland Rugby
After studying at Stellenbosch University, Steyn played for Griquas before moving north to join Scotland Sevens, which opened the door to Glasgow. Within a year, he was called into the Scotland squad and made his Test debut in 2020.
“Because my mum was born there, I was excited to represent Scotland,” he said. “You want to show how much it means to you every time you step on the field.”
Few moments capture that feeling more than the anthem at Murrayfield.
“That second verse, when the crowd takes over, is the most powerful feeling you can have as a player,” Steyn said. “You go from imagining it to living it.”
Now 32, Steyn is also a seasoned leader, having captained Glasgow for four seasons — a role he initially found challenging from the wing.
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“You can’t be involved in everything from that position,” he admitted. “It forces you to rely on leaders around you.”
With players like Sione Tuipulotu, Rory Darge and George Horne sharing leadership duties, Steyn has grown into the role in his own way.
“I feed off the energy of others,” he said. “That’s worked well for me.”
As Glasgow prepares for a defining clash in Cape Town, Steyn’s journey — from Johannesburg to Murrayfield and back again — reflects both his adaptability and his impact on the modern game.
DHL Stormers (2) v Glasgow Warriors (1)
The big picture
Round 16’s headline game pits second-placed DHL Stormers against leaders Glasgow Warriors, with major consequences at the top of the table and in the race for home quarter-finals.
Match angles
- DHL Stormers’ three-game winning run in the BKT URC ended with the 24-33 defeat to Connacht Rugby last weekend.
- Stormers have won all five matches they have played against Scottish opposition at DHL Stadium.
- Glasgow Warriors’ last five BKT URC matches have all been won by the home team on the day.
- The Scotsmen have suffered back-to-back defeats, to Toulon in Europe and Fidelity SecureDrive Lions in the BKT URC, for the first time since May 2025.
- The two sides have met six times, with the Stormers’ only victory coming in the inaugural clash, 32-7 at DHL Stadium in April 2022.
Form snapshot
- DHL Stormers last 6 BKT URC: L-L-W-W-W-L
- Glasgow Warriors last 6 BKT URC: W-W-L-W-W-L
Recent BKT URC meetings
Glasgow Warriors have won the last five meetings between the sides.
- May 30, 2025: Glasgow Warriors 36 DHL Stormers 18
- Oct 26, 2024: DHL Stormers 17 Glasgow Warriors 28
- Jun 8, 2024: Glasgow Warriors 27 DHL Stormers 10
Key players in the BKT URC this season
- DHL Stormers: Evan Roos 10 tries, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 103 points
- Glasgow Warriors: Jamie Dobie 7 tries, George Horne 49 points
URC Schedule This Week
Friday, April 24:
Saturday, April 25:
- DHL Stormers v Glasgow Warriors
- Fidelity SecureDrive Lions v Connacht Rugby
- Munster Rugby v Ulster Rugby
- Scarlets v Vodacom Bulls
- Benetton Rugby v Leinster Rugby
URC Table snapshot
- Glasgow Warriors, 55 pts
- DHL Stormers, 51 pts
- Leinster Rugby, 51 pts
- Fidelity SecureDrive Lions, 48 pts
- Ulster Rugby, 47 pts
- Munster Rugby, 46 pts
- Cardiff Rugby, 46 pts
- Vodacom Bulls, 45 pts
- Connacht Rugby, 44 pts
- Ospreys, 34 pts
- Hollywoodbets Sharks, 34 pts
- Edinburgh Rugby, 28 pts
- Benetton Rugby, 28 pts
- Scarlets, 23 pts
- Dragons RFC, 21 pts
- Zebre Parma, 14 pts
URC Top Try Scorers
- Evan Roos, DHL Stormers — 10
- Embrose Papier, Vodacom Bulls — 9
- Joshua Kenny, Leinster Rugby — 9
- Sean Jansen, Connacht Rugby — 9
- Zac Ward, Ulster Rugby — 8
- Jamie Dobie, Glasgow Warriors — 7
- Joe Roberts, Scarlets — 7
- Johann Grobbelaar, Vodacom Bulls — 7
- Ruan Venter, Fidelity SecureDrive Lions — 7
- Werner Kok, Ulster Rugby — 7
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