Eight Blue Bulls part of Junior Springboks training squad for International Series
After only one player from the Bulls last year made it into the Junior Springbok team for the under-20 World Championship, things look more promising this year with eight young Blue Bulls that were invited to the team's training camp in Stellenbosch.
Eight young Blue Bulls are among 34 players named in a Junior Springbok training squad that assemble in Stellenbosch since Monday.
The training camp, which forms part of the SA Rugby Academy programme, will run until Thursday 18 April, and will feature three friendlies as part of the Under 20 International Series. The Junior Boks will face the Argentina and Georgian U20s and a senior Namibian XV.
“We have narrowed down the group that we have been working with at the SA Rugby Academy in the last two months because it is easier to work with a smaller squad, but the door remains open for players outside of this group to play their way into contention for places in the squad,” said Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux.
The squad began their preparations for their opening match in the U20 International Series against Georgia on Tuesday, 9 April. They will face the Argentina U20’s and Namibian XV on Saturday, 13 April, and Wednesday, 17 April, respectively.
“We are looking forward to these matches because it will be the first real test for the players since the SA Rugby Academy started,” said Roux.
With the team set to play five international friendlies in the lead-up to the World Rugby U20 Championship, Roux believes it would serve as good preparation for his charges going into the international spectacle.
“These matches are vital to prepare the team as well as possible for the challenge they will face in Argentina,” said Roux.
The Junior Springboks will kick off their World Rugby U20 Championship campaign against Scotland on Tuesday, 4 June, before taking on Georgia (Saturday, 8 June) and New Zealand (Wednesday, 12 June) in the pool stages. The semi-finals will be contested on Monday, 17 June, and the final on Saturday, 22 June.
Junior Springbok training squad (in alphabetical order): Thaakir Abrahams (Sharks), Phendulani Buthelezi (Sharks), David Coetzer (Western Province), Caleb Dingaan (Sharks), Vusile Dlepu (Western Province), Kudzwai Dube (Blue Bulls), Celimpilo Gumede (Sharks), Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks), Francke Horn (Western Province), Hanro Jacobs (Sharks), Sabastian Jobb (Blue Bulls), Qamani Kota (Blue Bulls), David Kriel (Western Province), Jaco Labuschagne (Blue Bulls), Elrigh Louw (Free State), Nkosikhona Masuku (Golden Lions), Fezokuhle Mbatha (Sharks), Thabiso Mdletshe (Sharks), JJ van der Mescht (Sharks), James Mollentze (Free State), Lunga Ncube (Sharks), Jay Cee Nel (Blue Bulls), Sanele Nohamba (Sharks), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Golden Lions), Marnus Potgieter (Blue Bulls), Rikus Pretorius (Western Province), Dylan Richardson (Sharks), Evan Roos (Sharks), Sibusiso Sangweni (Golden Lions), Janko Swanepoel (Blue Bulls), Emile van Heerden (Sharks), Joe van Zyl (Blue Bulls), Dameon Venter (Golden Lions), Mnombo Zwelendaba (Western Province).
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