Junior Springbok squad named for U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha

The second edition of the tournament will be staged from 1 to 11 May at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.

Five capped Junior Boks are included in the squad, including three who took part in last year's inaugural Southern Hemisphere tournament in Australia, where the SA U20s finished second behind New Zealand.

Batho Hlekani (loose forward), Haashim Pead (scrumhalf), JC Mars (outside back) are the trio who will be returning for their second Rugby Championship, while the two other returning Junior Boks are Wandile Mlaba (loose forward) and Herman Lubbe (prop). Divan Fuller (flanker), who has also been capped by the Junior Boks, will miss the tournament through injury.

The naming of the 31-man Junior Bok squad is the culmination of a thorough preparation process which started with two training camps at the end of last year, another training block after the festive break, a short tour to Georgia, followed by a third training period in preparation for the season.

Foote said there is excitement in the camp in the build-up to the keenly anticipated tournament in the Eastern Cape.

"The Rugby Championship is a great opportunity for our players to test their abilities against quality opposition from New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina and we are looking forward to the challenge to play quality opposition in front of our passionate Eastern Cape fans," said Foote.

"We worked with 80 players during our various training camps, which gave us a fantastic opportunity to test and assess our depth.

"I believe we have selected a competitive Junior Bok squad, consisting of players who have really put up their hand during the camps. A few missed out due to injury while there are also a couple who were retained from last year."

According to the Junior Bok mentor, it was not an easy task to reduce the squad, and he commended the entire training group for their effort during the preparation blocks.

"The players all did their part, and I am pleased with their effort," said Foote. "We could only announce a 31-man squad, but that doesn't mean those players who will not play in Nelson Mandela Bay are out of the reckoning for the World Rugby U20 Championship."

Foote added that they will monitor player progress in SA Rugby's U21 Cup competition, which starts next month, and emphasised that the door is not closed at all, considering there is still another training block to come after the Rugby Champs in the build-up towards the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy.

The Junior Bok squad will assemble next Tuesday in Gqeberha, where they will fine-tune preparations for the tournament.

Junior Springbok squad

Forwards: Ranon Fouche, Jean Erasmus, Simphiwe Ngobese, Herman Lubbe, Oliver Reid, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Jaundré Schoeman, HB Odendaal, Neil Hansen, Morné Venter, Riley Norton, JJ Theron, Batho Hlekani, Xola Nyali, Matt Romao, Wandile Mlaba, Thando Biyela.

Backs: Ceano Everson, Haashim Pead, Elrich Visser, Vusi Moyo, Kyle Smith, Albie Bester, Gino Cupido, Demitre Erasmus, Dominic Malgas, Scott Nel, Gilermo Mentoe, Siya Ndlozi, Cheswill Jooste, JC Mars.

Rugby Championship U20 fixtures (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium)

Thursday, 1 May

14h00: New Zealand v Australia

16h10: Junior Boks v Argentina

Tuesday, 6 May

14h00: New Zealand v Argentina

16h10: Junior Boks v Australia

Sunday, 11 May

14h00: Argentina v Australia

16h10: Junior Boks v New Zealand

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