Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named a youthful 35-player squad for the team’s first official training camp of the season. Focus will be on preparing for the opening Test against Wales on 22 June in London, marking the start of a busy 2024 Test season for the Boks.
The training squad includes 11 uncapped players alongside a mix of veterans from the two previous Rugby World Cup-winning squads.
Among the uncapped players are Jordan Hendrikse (brother of Jaden Hendrikse), Quan Horn, Edwill van der Merwe, and Morné van den Berg, all from the Emirates Lions; Phepsi Buthelezi, Siya Masuku, and Ethan Hooker from the Hollywoodbets Sharks; and Ben-Jason Dixon, Sacha Feinberg-Mgomezulu, Neethling Fouche, and Andre-Hugo Venter from the DHL Stormers.
The squad comprises 19 forwards and 16 backs. Notably, flyhalf Handré Pollard and eighth man Jasper Wiese, who is serving a six-week ban, have been named in the group. They will train with the team but will only be available for selection after the Wales Test.
“We selected a group of players featuring a good mix of youth and experience, and in terms of the young players especially, we believe they have the potential to make the step-up to top international rugby,” said Erasmus.
“We gained immense value by granting a few players a chance to prove what they can do at international level in the last few years leading up to the 2023 World Cup.
Some of the players who made their Test debuts in that time were members of the squad that lifted the trophy in Paris, and we feel it is important that we continue blooding new players as we build toward the future.
“As things stand, we have a bunch of young players that already have Test experience and who know exactly how we operate as a team and what is expected of them at this level, and we have no doubt that we will reap the rewards in the years to come as we continue to increase our squad depth,” Erasmus said.
Following the Wales Test, the Springboks will take part in the Castle Lager Incoming Series, featuring consecutive Tests against Ireland in Pretoria and Durban on 6 and 13 July. This will be followed by a historic first Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein on 20 July.
Springbok training squad:
Forwards: Phepsi Buthelezi, Joseph Dweba, Ben-Jason Dixon, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Neethling Fouche, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Salmaan Moerat, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Evan Roos, Kwagga Smith, Andre-Hugo Venter, Jasper Wiese.
Backs: Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, André Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Jordan Hendrikse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Quan Horn, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Manie Libbok, Makazole Mapimpi, Siya Masuku, Handré Pollard, Morné van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe, Grant Williams.
Compiled by Warren Hawkins
