Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has named a 51-man training squad for the national team’s first camp of the season, with an eye on the upcoming double-header in Gqeberha that will see the Springboks face the Barbarians and an SA ‘A’ side take on Zimbabwe on 20 June.
The squad, announced on Saturday, includes 21 uncapped players as Erasmus continues to build depth ahead of a demanding international season and the road to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
With players from the Vodacom Bulls unavailable due to their participation in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship final against Leinster, Erasmus handed opportunities to several young prospects, including a strong contingent of SA U20 stars.
Among the junior players called up are Yaqeen Ahmed, Danie Kruger, Luan Giliomee, Vusi Moyo, Oliver Reid, Liam van Wyk, Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Markus Muller and Zekhethelo Siyaya, all of whom previously attended the expanded Springbok alignment camp.
The remaining uncapped players in the squad are Paul de Villiers, Bathobele Hlekani, Hanro Jacobs, Jurenzo Julius, Imad Khan, JJ Kotze, Sibabalwa Mahashe, Haashim Pead, Nico Steyn, Emmanuel Tshituka and Jaco Williams.
Japanese-based Springboks who have completed their club commitments will join the camp immediately, while players based in the United Kingdom will report once their seasons conclude in accordance with World Rugby regulations.
Erasmus said the larger group would allow the coaching staff to field both a Springbok and SA ‘A’ side while continuing to broaden the national player pool.
“We named a large group of players as we will be selecting a Springbok and SA ‘A’ team for the season-opening double-header in Gqeberha, and this will be beneficial in the long term as we build the squad, looking forward to next year’s Rugby World Cup and beyond,” said Erasmus.
“There is also an exciting mix of experienced campaigners and young players in this squad, and this formula has worked well for us in the past to ensure a clear pathway to build depth within the group.”
The Springbok coach added that the alignment camps held earlier in the year had laid the groundwork for the squad’s preparations, with the focus now shifting to implementing those systems on the training field.
South Africa’s squad for the Nations Championship Tests against England, Scotland and Wales will be announced on 21 June following the conclusion of the URC season.