The stakes are mounting, the pressure is building, and the hunger for silverware burns brighter than ever. Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote has unveiled a 38-man extended training squad as South Africa’s finest young rugby prospects prepare to defend their U20 crown at the upcoming Junior World Championship in Georgia.
It’s a squad brimming with talent, battle-tested experience, and that quintessentially South African blend of physicality and flair. But there’s a twist in this pre-tournament tale, ten of the extended squad’s brightest stars have been snapped up by the senior Springbok setup, a testament to the depth of talent currently coursing through South African rugby’s veins.
Senior call-ups thin the ranks, but depth remains
Captain Riley Norton, the 19-year-old lock who marshalled the Junior Boks to World Championship glory in Italy last year, finds himself in the enviable position of training with the big boys. Norton, alongside props Oliver Reid and Danie Kruger, hookers Siphosethu Mnebelele and Liam van Wyk, flyhalves Vusi Moyo and Yaqeen Ahmed, utility back Luan Giliomee, centre Markus Muller, and fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya, will join the senior Springbok group for their clash against the Barbarians and the SA ‘A’ fixture against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha on 20 June.
Wing wizard Cheswill Jooste won’t be in Stellenbosch either, not yet, anyway. The Bulls flyer is preparing for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final, and won’t join the Junior Bok fold until his URC commitments conclude. Meanwhile, prop Kai Pratt has been ruled out of the camp through injury.
Fear not, though, Foote has contingencies in place. The remaining 27 players will assemble at the Stellenbosch training base on Monday, with the senior players set to rejoin the U20 setup upon completion of their Springbok duties. The entire squad is scheduled to depart for Georgia on Monday, 22 June.
Championship pedigree runs deep
This isn’t a group of fresh-faced rookies stepping into the unknown. Every single player in the extended training squad has attended previous camps in Stellenbosch and competed in either the recent U20 International Series or the SANZAAR U20 Rugby Championship, both of which South Africa won with authority.
That tournament experience is invaluable. The Junior Boks know what it takes to perform under pressure on the international stage. They’ve felt the weight of expectation, tasted victory, and learned to handle the physical demands of elite-level rugby.
“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,” Foote told KickOff.com. “Given the number of players called up to the Springboks, we have selected a wider training group for this camp in Stellenbosch.
“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.”
The Stellenbosch crew ready to fire
While Norton and company sharpen their skills with the senior Boks, a formidable group of youngsters will be putting in the hard yards at Stellenbosch, determined to prove they deserve their spot on the plane to Georgia.
In the front row, Rambo Kubheka, Jordan Jooste, Luan van der Berg, and Bongani Dlamini will provide the grunt work alongside hookers Altus Rabe and Mahle Sithole. The engine room features Heinrich Theron, JD Hattingh, and the promising Jaythen Orange.
The loose forward contingent is particularly mouth-watering. Kebotile Maake, Risima Khosa, Luke Cannon, Wasi Vyambwera, Quintin Potgieter, Vuyo Gwiji, Gert Kemp, and Thomas Beling offer Foote a smorgasbord of options.
Scrumhalves Hendré Schoeman and Jayden Brits will orchestrate proceedings, feeding quality ball to a midfield featuring Ethan Adams, Samuel Badenhorst, and Pieter van der Merwe. Out wide, the pace and finishing prowess of Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, Jordan Steenkamp, Jack Benade, Alzeadon Felix, and Akahluwa Boqwana could prove devastating.
Defending champions with unfinished business
South Africa ended a 13-year drought by claiming the World Rugby U20 Championship title in Italy last year, defeating New Zealand 23-15 in a pulsating final in Rovigo. That victory was built on trademark South African defence, forward dominance, and clinical execution when it mattered most.
Now, with Georgia on the horizon, the Junior Boks face the prospect of back-to-back titles, a feat that would cement this generation’s legacy in South African rugby folklore.
The talent is there. The experience is there. The hunger is there. All that remains is for these young Boks to put the pieces together in Georgia and show the world that last year’s triumph was no fluke.
With players shuttling between the senior Boks and the U20 setup, juggling URC finals commitments, and managing injuries, Foote’s task isn’t straightforward. But if there’s one thing South African rugby does well, it’s rising to a challenge.
