A product of the Western Cape of South Africa, Dillyn Leyds attended the illustrious Diocesan College (Bishops), a school renowned for its free flowing, attacking style of play. Turning out for Western Province at both the U18 Academy Week and Craven Week of 2010, Leyds remained in Cape Town as an integral part of their U19 Currie Cup squad in 2011. His 133 points in 13 starts was followed by national acclaim in the colours of UCT during the Varsity Cup, leading to a senior professional debut in the Vodacom Cup as a 20-year-old. Always one to embrace a new challenge, the fleet footed Leyds enjoyed his first Super Rugby cap at Australian franchise, the Western Force.

Returning to Newlands in 2015, the rapidly quick outside back became one of the first names of the team sheet, initially as a winger. Filling in at flyhalf when needed, Dillyn’s destructive counter-attacking abilities earned him an international test debut against France, a country that he would eventually settle in. By 2020, Leyds’s shrewd rugby brain was deemed to be perfectly suited to the fullback position, and the dependable last line of defence was recruited by one of the top clubs in the world, La Rochelle. A game-breaker with undeniable x-factor, his first season in France saw Dillyn turn out in the finals of both the Top 14 and European Champions Cup.