Mahlatse “Chiliboy” Ralepelle rose rapidly through the rugby ranks and became one of the most beloved players in the late 2000s.
Known for his calm authority on the field, he was an impressive scrummager with accurate throwing skills in line-outs.
Chiliboy’s rugby journey began at Pretoria Boys High School, and he went on to represent South Africa at the school, Under-19, and Under-21 levels, captaining the junior Boks at the 2006 Under-21 World Championship in France.
Later that same year, he made history by becoming the first Black player and the youngest ever to captain the Springboks, leading the team in a midweek match against a World XV in England.
Chiliboy Ralepelle became the first black player to captain to Boks
His appointment was celebrated as a significant step forward in South African rugby’s transformation journey.
A decade later, Siya Kolisi became the first Black player to captain the Springboks in a Test match. While Kolisi’s appointment as captain was a full-time and permanent role, Ralepelle’s captaincy occurred in a match that did not have Test status, making Kolisi’s position more significant and official.
Where did it all begin for Chiliboy?
Born in Tzaneen, Chiliboy Ralepelle spent most of his professional career with the Bulls, where he won the Super Rugby title in 2009 after coming on in the final against the Chiefs in the second half.
In 2013, he joined French giants Toulouse before returning to South Africa to play for the Sharks in 2016. His career ended abruptly in 2019 after he tested positive.
Despite his talent and leadership, Chiliboy’s career was marked by both promise and controversy. He had three positive drug tests throughout his career, which tarnished his legacy as a player.
When did Chiliboy Ralepelle get banned?
After a match against Ireland in 2010, the former hooker tested positive for methylhexanamine but was later cleared by the South African Rugby Union due to contamination from an energy supplement.
During his time with Toulouse, he tested positive for an anabolic steroid (drostanolone) and received a two-year ban from April 2014 to April 2016, which resulted in the termination of his contract with Toulouse.
On January 17, 2019, he tested positive for Zeranol and was handed an eight-year ban. His appeal was unsuccessful, effectively ending his playing career at the age of 33. Over his career, he earned 25 Test caps for South Africa between 2006 and 2018.
Where is Chiliboy Ralepelle today?
The former Springbok hooker has been lying low for five years. He did admit that he was saddened by the eight-year ban handed to him by an independent doping tribunal, and promised to ‘fight until the end’.
How good was Chiliboy?
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