BOK PROP THOMAS “THE TANK” DU TOIT SIGNS WITH PUMA
BOK PROP THOMAS “THE TANK” DU TOIT SIGNS WITH PUMA
Cape Town, South Africa – February 2026
Global sports brand PUMA has officially signed Springbok prop Thomas du Toit, strengthening its growing stable of elite rugby talent.
Du Toit, affectionately known as “The Tank”, will lace up in PUMA’s latest rugby innovation – the PUMA Avant Pro II, a high-performance boot engineered specifically for the tight-five.
Built for the Bind: The Avant Pro II
The Avant Pro II is the latest evolution of PUMA’s technical rugby boot, designed to enhance:
- Traction
- Power transfer
- Scrum stability
- Explosive acceleration
The boot is already worn by several top-tier professionals, including:
- Bongi Mbonambi
- Gerhard Steenekamp
- Ruan Nortje
- Franco Mostert
- Lood de Jager
- Johan Grobbelaar
- Trevor Nyakane
- Marnus van der Merwe
- Vincent Koch
- JF van Heerden
- Sanelisiwe Charlie
- Jaco Grobbelaar
- Ruben van Heerden
PUMA Welcomes “The Tank”
“We are proud to add The Tank to our growing family of world-class rugby players. As a force in both provincial and global arenas, he will drive market visibility of the PUMA Avant Pro II which was specifically Built for the Bind. As a dominating prop he will demonstrate the technical features of the boot, focusing on traction, power and stability,” said Brett Bellinger, Marketing Director for PUMA South Africa.
A Decorated Career
Du Toit brings serious pedigree to the partnership.
- 32 Springbok caps
- Rugby World Cup winner
- Rugby Championship winner
- Over 100 senior appearances across Super Rugby and domestic competitions
He also gained valuable overseas experience in Ireland and France before signing with Bath Rugby in 2023. During his time in the English Premiership, he established himself as one of the league’s most influential forwards, regularly scoring as a powerful ball carrier.
Returning Home to South Africa
Following a successful stint abroad, Du Toit has confirmed his return to South Africa. He will rejoin the Hollywoodbets Sharks for the 2026/27 season.
The decision was driven by family priorities and a desire to contribute to South African rugby on home soil.
What This Means for South African Rugby
With a Rugby World Cup-winning prop aligning with PUMA’s technical innovation, this partnership strengthens both brand visibility and elite performance credibility in the local and international rugby markets.
As Du Toit returns to the Sharks and prepares for the 2026/27 season, fans can expect to see “The Tank” anchoring scrums in the Avant Pro II — built for dominance at the highest level.
