Young rising talent Vilikesa ‘Billy’ Sela has openly expressed his admiration for Bath Rugby’s seasoned tighthead prop, Thomas du Toit. “I want to be exactly like him. In my opinion, he’s the number one tighthead in the world,” Sela said.
Sela is rapidly establishing himself within the Bath squad, having started in their convincing 48-15 win over Harlequins last Saturday. He was substituted in the 53rd minute for du Toit, the World Cup-winning prop who will be leaving Bath this summer to return to The Sharks in South Africa. Despite du Toit’s imminent departure, his influence on the club, the Gallagher Premiership, and particularly on Sela, is undeniable.
“Even off the pitch, he’s such a role model, just an honest guy and a family man. Being able to train with him and learn from him is amazing,” Sela shared after the game at The Rec.
READ MORE: Vibrant Somerset Town Celebrates Parking Fee Reduction and Upgrades
READ MORE: Concerns Raised Over NHS Staff Transfer to Private Company in Bath and Wiltshire
Du Toit has taken Sela under his wing, offering constant guidance and advice to help accelerate his development. “He even spoke with me after the match, pointing out a few things to work on. I’m just happy he sees my potential and is pleased with where I’m at.”
When asked to rate du Toit on a scale of 1 to 10, Sela smiled, “That’s a tough question. If he’s a 10, I’d say I’m about a seven. I still feel a bit behind him, but there’s plenty of room to improve.”
Beyond technical skills, du Toit also sets the benchmark in lifestyle habits off the pitch. Sela revealed, “My biggest challenge when I started in the Premiership was recovery. He advised me it’s all about lifestyle. He even tried to get me on the carnivore diet—just red meat—which is very South African!” Sela laughed. “I gave it a go for a bit, and my gym numbers started shooting up. He’s packed with knowledge, and I’m grateful to have him around.”
The start against Harlequins marked Sela’s fifth Premiership starting appearance this season, a significant step up from the three substitute outings he made last year. He credits the positive environment at Bath for his progression: “I really enjoy being part of this squad. The atmosphere here is special. I’ve been around other teams, but I don’t feel this kind of unity anywhere else. I’m happy to be at Bath.”
Bath head coach Johann van Graan also praised Sela’s development following the Harlequins game: “I met Billy nearly four years ago, and it’s fantastic to see the progress he’s made. He represents the promising young players in our squad. Today in our tight five, we had a new generation—Scott Kirk, Billy Sela, and Ewan Richards. That bodes really well for Bath’s future.”
With two England A caps this season and his Premiership performances improving steadily, Vilikesa Sela is evidently on the rise, with a full England debut likely on the horizon.