Rassie Erasmus Calls Up Over 10 Uncapped Players for Springboks’ First Alignment Camp
- Rassie Erasmus has released the Springboks squad set to camp in Cape Town ahead of the 2026 season
- The South African men's rugby team had a splendid 2025 campaign and would want to replicate it this year
- The squad includes several new invitees, but it's been dominated by regular faces in the team in 2025
Springboks manager Rassie Erasmus has decided to launch a new era in the Springboks as he unveiled a 49-man list, which included over 10 uncapped stars for South Africa's first face-to-face camp for 2026 on Wednesday, February 25, in Cape Town.
Source: Getty Images
Among the new faces in the Springboks squad, five of them are eligible to represent South Africa at the junior level, while 14 of them are Rugby World Cup champions.
The camp was scheduled from Tuesday, 3 March 2026, to Friday, 6 March 2026, and it is part of the national coaches’ strategic groundwork ahead of the 2026 campaign.
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The Springboks are hoping to build on the success they had in 2025 and replicate it in 2026 before going to the World Cup in Australia next year.
Junior Springboks earn senior call-ups
A versatile forward, Riley Norton, is one of the standout inclusions in the squad after captaining the South Africa Under 20 side to winning the 2025 Junior World Championship. He is joined by Siphosethu Mnebelele and Cheswill Jooste, who were also part of the SA U20 squad.
Source: Getty Images
Also in the squad are two players from the under 18 category, Markus Muller and Kai Pratt, who are currently on tour in Georgia.
Jooste, alongside Bathobele Hlekani and Haashim Pead, will attend their maiden Springbok camp after previously spending a week training with the senior squad last campaign.
Paul de Villiers, who made his Test debut for the Springboks against Japan in 2025, also made the group and joining him are Jaco Williams, Zachary Porthen, and Emmanuel Tshituka.
21 players based abroad would have their own camping virtually to make sure the whole team integrate smoothly.
Squad selected for the Springboks
Forwards: Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche, Kai Pratt, Emmanuel Tshituka, Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks); Johan Grobbelaar, Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Cobus Wiese, Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls); Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Neethling Fouche, Frans Malherbe, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Salmaan Moerat, Riley Norton, Zachary Porthen, Evan Roos (DHL Stormers); Bathobele Hlekani, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter (Lions).
Backs: Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Makazole Mapimpi, Edwill van der Merwe, Grant Williams, Jaco Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks); Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sebastian de Klerk, Cheswill Jooste, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls); Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Markus Muller, Cobus Reinach, Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers); Quan Horn, Haashim Pead, Morne van den Berg (Lions).
England star now eligible for Springboks
Briefly News previously reported that an English international is set to switch allegiance, which comes with the possibility of him joining the Springboks for the next World Cup.
The Boks' head coach has reportedly made contact with the player over the possibility of representing the defending champions.
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Source: Briefly News
