Five players with previous World Rugby U20 Championship experience have been named in the Junior Springbok squad for the 2025 event in Italy.
Lock Riley Norton has been retained as captain for the tournament which will be staged from 29 June to 19 July.
Phiwayinkosi Kubheka (prop) and Ian van der Merwe (flyhalf) have not played for the SA U20s before, while Jaco Grobbelaar (lock), Stephanus Linde (No 8) and Jaco Williams (outside back) are back in the squad after missing the recent U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha.
Kubheka played for the SA U18s last year and Van der Merwe in 2023, while Linde toured with the Junior Boks in Georgia earlier this year before he picked up an injury which ruled him out of the Rugby Championship. Grobbelaar and Williams were involved with the Vodacom URC squads with the Vodacom Bulls and Sharks, respectively.
Grobbelaar is one of the five players who are returning for a second World Rugby Championship stint, alongside utility forward Bathobele Hlekani, prop Herman Lubbe, loose forward Wandile Mlaba and scrumhalf Haashim Pead.
Furthermore, six players who are still U19 have been included in the squad, which bodes well for next season. They are Kubheka and his fellow prop Oliver Reid, hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele, lock Norton, flyhalf Vusi Moyo and outside back Cheswill Jooste.
“The boys have all been superb in their attitude and application and most of the group have been together since November last year, when the SA U19 Academy Programme kicked off in Stellenbosch,” said coach Kevin Foote.
“I want to thank every player who have been part of the various training groups, for their amazing effort. The schools and provincial unions also deserve a huge amount of credit for the way in which they have prepared our players.
“The provincial unions must be commended for their excellent cooperation during the numerous training camps, our successful tour to Georgia and the Rugby Championship.”
The training squad of 37 players were reduced to the official squad size of 30 players who will represent South Africa from the end of the month against the best U20 players in world rugby.
“We selected a good group of players who are determine to do the country proud with their performances on the field of play and their conduct off-field,” said Foote.
“It was an enormously difficult task to cut the squad to 30 players and we all feel for those guys who did not make the final selection. I want to say thank you to them for their positive attitude and their great effort at all times, they will remain on standby, and we will not hesitate to call any of them up should the need arise.
“Congratulations to the 30 who were selected; what an honour to represent your country against the best in world.”
MORE: Junior Boks aim to gain from U20 Champs pain
The squad will continue with their preparations in Stellenbosch until their departure to Italy on 24 June. The Junior Boks open their campaign in Italy on 29 June against Australia in Calvisano, before they take on England on 4 July in Rovigo, and their final pool fixture is on 9 July against Scotland, also in Calvisano.
Junior Boks squad:
Props: Jean Erasmus (Bulls), Phiwayinkosi “Rambo” Kubheka (Sharks), Herman Lubbe (Western Province), Simphiwe Ngobese (Sharks), Oliver Reid (Western Province).
Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Bulls), Jaundré Schoeman (Bulls).
Locks: Jaco Grobbelaar (Bulls), Riley Norton (captain, Western Province), JJ Theron (Bulls), Morné Venter (Lions).
Loose forwards: Thando Biyela (Lions), Bathobele Hlekani (Sharks), Wandile Mlaba (Western Province), Xola Nyali (Western Province), Matt Romao (Sharks), Stephanus Linde (Cheetahs).
Scrumhalves: Ceano Everson (Sharks), Haashim Pead (Lions), Erich Visser (Cheetahs).
Flyhalves: Vusi Moyo (Sharks), Ian van der Merwe (Bulls).
Centres: Albie Bester (Sharks), Gino Cupido (Western Province), Demitre Erasmus (Bulls), Dominic Malgas (Western Province).
Outside backs: Cheswill Jooste (Bulls), Gilermo Mentoe (Lions), Siya Ndlozi (Western Province), Jaco Williams (Sharks).
Junior Boks Pool A fixtures:
Sunday, 29 June: vs Australia U20, Stadio San Michele (Calvisano)
Friday, 4 July: vs England U20, Stadio Mario Battaglini (Rovigo)
Wednesday, 9 July: vs Scotland U20, June Stadio San Michele (Calvisano)
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
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