MBDA
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will likely be internet hosting the 2025 version of the U20 Rugby Championship from 1 – 11 Might.
Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote has named a aggressive junior Springbok squad consisting of 31 gamers for the event that options Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.
SA Rugby mentioned 5 capped junior Boks are included within the squad, together with three who took half in final 12 months’s inaugural southern hemisphere event in Australia, the place the SA U20s completed second behind New Zealand.
Batho Hlekani (free ahead), Haashim Pead (scrumhalf), JC Mars (exterior again) are the trio who will likely be returning for his or her second Rugby Championship, whereas the 2 different returning Junior Boks are Wandile Mlaba (free ahead) and Herman Lubbe (prop).
Divan Fuller (flanker), who has additionally been capped will miss the event via damage.
The naming of the 31-man Junior Bok squad is the end result of a radical preparation course of which began with two coaching camps on the finish of final 12 months, one other coaching block after the festive break, a brief tour to Georgia, adopted by a 3rd coaching interval in preparation of the season.
The Rugby Championship is a good alternative for our gamers to check their skills in opposition to high quality opposition from New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina and we’re trying ahead to the problem to play high quality opposition in entrance of our passionate Japanese Cape followers,” mentioned Foote.
He mentioned they’ll monitor participant progress in SA Rugby’s U21 Cup competitors, which begins subsequent month, and emphasised that the door will not be closed in any respect contemplating there’s nonetheless one other coaching block to return after the Rugby Champs within the build-up in direction of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy.
Junior Springbok squad for the U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha:
Props: Ranon Fouché (Vodacom Bulls), Jean Erasmus (Vodacom Bulls), Simphiwe Ngobese (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Herman Lubbe (DHL Western Province), Oliver Reid (DHL Western Province).
Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Vodacom Bulls), Jaundré Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls), HB Odendaal (Constancy ADT Lions).
Locks: Neil Hansen (Constancy ADT Lions), Morné Venter (Constancy ADT Lions), Riley Norton (DHL Western Province), JJ Theron (Vodacom Bulls).
Free forwards: Batho Hlekani (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Xola Nyali (DHL Western Province), Matt Romao (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wandile Mlaba (DHL Western Province), Thando Biyela (Constancy ADT Lions).
Scrumhalves: Ceano Everson (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Haashim Pead (Constancy ADT Lions), Elrich Visser (Toyota Cheetahs).
Flyhalves: Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kyle Smith (DHL Western Province).
Centres: Albie Bester (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gino Cupido (DHL Western Province), Demitre Erasmus (Vodacom Bulls), Dominic Malgas (DHL Western Province).
Outdoors backs: Scott Nel (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gilermo Mentoe (Constancy ADT Lions), Siya Ndlozi (DHL Western Province), Cheswill Jooste (Vodacom Bulls), JC Mars (DHL Western Province).
Rugby Championship U20 fixtures (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium):
Thursday, 1 Might
14h00: New Zealand v Australia
16h10: Junior Boks v Argentina
Tuesday, 6 Might
14h00: New Zealand v Argentina
16h10: Junior Boks v Australia
Sunday, 11 Might
14h00: Argentina v Australia
16h10: Junior Boks v New Zealand
