By Johnathan Paoli
Junior Springboks head coach Kevin Foote has named an extended 38-man training squad as South Africa intensifies preparations for the World Rugby Junior World Championship in Georgia later this month.
The majority of the players will assemble in Stellenbosch from Monday for the final phase of preparations, although 10 members of the squad are in the wider Springbok group for the Springboks-Barbarians clash and SA ‘A’ fixture against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha on 20 June, while Cheswill Jooste remains on Vodacom Bulls duty.
“We are very excited for the players who have been called up to the senior Springbok group, and we have our contingencies in place as we continue with our final block of preparations. Given the number of players called up to the Springboks, we have selected a wider training group for this [training] camp in Stellenbosch,” Foote said.
The Junior Boks head into the global tournament in confident mood after winning both the recent U20 International Series and the SANZAAR U20 Rugby Championship, with Foote opting to retain a group made up entirely of players who have featured in previous training camps and international competitions.
A significant boost for South African rugby development came with 10 members of the Junior Bok setup earning call-ups to the senior Springbok training group ahead of the Barbarians clash and SA ‘A’ fixture against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha on 20 June.
Junior Boks captain Riley Norton is among those selected for senior duty, alongside props Oliver Reid and Danie Kruger, hookers Siphosethu Mnebelele and Liam van Wyk, backs Vusi Moyo, Yaqeen Ahmed, Luan Giliomee, Markus Muller and Zekhethelo Siyaya.
Wing Cheswill Jooste remains with the Vodacom Bulls as they prepare for the United Rugby Championship Grand Final, while prop Kai Pratt was unavailable for selection due to injury.
The remaining 27 players will begin training in Stellenbosch immediately, while those involved with senior teams are expected to re-join the Junior Boks before the squad departs for Georgia on 22 June.
“We are also pleased that we were able to give members of our extended training group game time during the recent U20 International Series and the U20 Rugby Championship. That gave us an excellent opportunity to continue building squad depth and cohesion, while also broadening our international experience,” Foote said.
The expanded squad has players drawn from the Vodacom Bulls, DHL Stormers, Hollywoodbets Sharks and Fidelity Securedrive Lions structures.
Junior Boks training squad assembling in Stellenbosch:
Props: Rambo Kubheka, Jordan Jooste, Luan van der Berg, Bongani Dlamini.
Hookers: Altus Rabe, Mahle Sithole.
Locks: Heinrich Theron, JD Hattingh, Jaythen Orange.
Loose Forwards: Kebotile Maake, Risima Khosa, Luke Cannon, Wasi Vyambwera, Quintin Potgieter, Vuyo Gwiji, Gert Kemp, Thomas Beling.
Scrumhalves: Hendré Schoeman, Jayden Brits.
Centres: Ethan Adams, Samuel Badenhorst, Pieter van der Merwe.
Outside Backs: Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, Jordan Steenkamp, Jack Benade, Alzeadon Felix, Akahluwa Boqwana.
Players to join after Springbok and URC duties include Oliver Reid, Danie Kruger, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Liam van Wyk, Riley Norton, Yaqeen Ahmed, Vusi Moyo, Luan Giliomee, Markus Muller, Cheswill Jooste and Zekhethelo Siyaya.
INSIDE EDUCATION
