Junior Springbok training squad teeming with young Blue Bulls
Thirteen young players from the Bulls were invited to the Junior Springboks' first training camp.
Young rising stars of the Blue Bulls, such as Stedman Gans, Manie Libbok, Embrose Papier and Hendre Stassen were all included in a 50-man Junior Springbok training squad as the preparations begin to take shape for the World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia from 31 May to 18 June.
A total of 86 players were invited to two assessment camps last month in Pretoria and Stellenbosch, where the players participated in a series of speed and strength tests and underwent medical screening. The first training camp will be in Stellenbosch from 5 to 17 March, whereafter the squad will be trimmed down to 28 players in April for the international showpiece.
“This is a talented group of players, and we can’t wait to start the real hard work in the lead-up to the World Rugby U20 Championship. We have exactly three months to get the team ready before their opening match, which is not much time, especially if one considers that the U20 Six Nations teams are at an advanced stage of their season. But that said, we are excited about the challenge ahead and we believe the players will be up for it,” said Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux.
This camp will be followed by a tour to the central unions from 26 March to 9 April, which will feature warm-up matches against the Griffons in Welkom on Friday, 31 March, Griquas in Kimberley on Wednesday, 5 April and Free State Cheetahs on Saturday, 8 April.
The Junior Springboks will play another two further warm-up matches, against the Varsity Cup Dream Team on Tuesday, 25 April, and Western Province on Tuesday, 9 May, in Stellenbosch during their third training camp, which runs from 18 April to 12 May. They will conclude their preparations for the tournament with a holding camp in Stellenbosch from 21 to 25 May.
Junior Springbok training squad:
Props: Kwenzo Blose (Cheetahs), Wikus Groenewald (Western Province), Leo Kruger (Golden Lions), Andrew Kuhn (Free State Cheetahs), Lee-Marvin Mazibuko (Western Province), Khutu Mchunu (Sharks), Mashao Mukhari (Blue Bulls), Carlu Sadie (Western Province), Gerhard Steenekamp (Blue Bulls), Abram Venter (Free State Cheetahs).
Hookers: Abraham Coetzee (Free State Cheetahs), Johan Grobbelaar (Blue Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Free State Cheetahs), HP van Schoor (Golden Lions).
Locks: Ruben de Villers (Western Province), Salmaan Moerat (Western Province), Reinhard Nothnagel (Lions), Hendre Stassen (Blue Bulls), Ruben van Heerden (Blue Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Western Province).
Loose forwards: Juarno Augustus (Western Province), Jaco Bezuidenhout (Blue Bulls), Hacjivah Dayimani (Golden Lions), Zain Davids (Western Province), Eduan Lubbe (Blue Bulls), Len Massyn (Golden Lions), Kuyenzeka Xaba (Western Province), Muller Uys (Western Province), Ernst van Rhyn (Western Province).
Scrumhalves: Francois de Villiers (Sharks), Embrose Papier (Blue Bulls), Bradley Thain (Golden Lions), Wayne van der Bank (Golden Lions), Jondre Williams (Western Province).
Flyhalves: Curwin Bosch (Sharks), Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Sharks), Manie Libbok (Blue Bulls), Damian Willemse (Western Province).
Centres: Irvin Ali (Blue Bulls), Heino Bezuidenhout (Blue Bulls), Stedman Gans (Blue Bulls), Manuel Rass (Golden Lions), Wandisile Simelane (Golden Lions), Cornel Smit (Western Province).
Wingers: Ciaran Dayaram (Blue Bulls), Ilunga Mukendi (Sharks), Mfundo Ndhlovu (Sharks), Michael Tambwe (Golden Lions).
Fullbacks: Gianni Lombard (Golden Lions), Yaw Penxe (EP Kings)
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