Junior Boks unveil squad to defend world title in Georgia

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: SA Under-20 head coach Kevin Foote announced the Junior Springboks squad to represent South Africa at the 2026 World Junior World Championship in Georgia with seven players from last year’s successful campaign in Italy included in the group.

South Africa will defend their title at the global showpiece, which takes place in Georgia from June 27 to July 18.

Captain Riley Norton (lock), Oliver Reid, Rambo Kubheka (props), Siphosethu Mnebelele (hooker), Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), Cheswill Jooste (wing), and Alzeadon Felix (fullback) were all part of the SA U20 side that won last year’s world championship in Italy.

Ten members of the JWC squad were included in the wider Springbok group for the Barbarians fixture and the SA ‘A’ match against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha on June 20, while Cheswill Jooste remains with the Bulls, who have qualified for the next Friday’s United Rugby Championship Grand Final.

The Junior Bok squad consists entirely of players who have attended previous training camps in Stellenbosch, as well as the recent U20 International Series and the SANZAAR U20 Rugby Championship, both of which were won by South Africa.

Norton is one of the players included in the wider Springbok group, along with Reid and Danie Kruger (props); Mnebelele and Liam van Wyk (hookers); Moyo (flyhalf); Yaqeen Ahmed (flyhalf/centre); Luan Giliomee (utility back); Markus Muller (centre); and Zekhethelo Siyaya (fullback). They will join the Junior Bok squad as soon as they are released from senior national duty.

Muller and Siyaya are joined by eight other players in the squad who are still U19 and eligible to play in next year’s JWC as well. They are Jordan Jooste and Luan van der Berg (props), Jaythen Orange (lock), Gert Kemp and Wasi Vyambwera (loose forwards), Jayden Brits (scrumhalf), Ethan Adams (centre), and Jordan Steenkamp (wing).

The players will be capped on Saturday, June 13, and will continue their final preparations at their Stellenbosch base camp before departing for Georgia on Monday, June 22.

Reflecting on the final selection, which required the coaches to trim the wider training squad to the official JWC group, Foote said the process was extremely tough.

“It was the most difficult decision for me and the fellow coaches,” said Foote.

“Any one of those not selected would have done a great job for us in Georgia. It was the most difficult decision we had to make because of the quality of players and the calibre of young men we’ve had the privilege of working with during the past six months in our programme.”

Foote also said the players and their provincial teams deserve credit for the way they have supported the Junior Bok programme.

“Our staff worked incredibly hard to get the young men ready for this championship, and credit must also go to the players who have given so much to us through their dedication and commitment,” he said.

“And then, of course, their provincial teams must be commended for their support and how they have prepared the players for us.

“Congratulations to everyone selected. They had to work incredibly hard and have delivered on everything that we’ve asked of them thus far.”

Foote also acknowledged those who missed out: “There were numerous positions where it was very tight, and where several players knocked really hard on the door.

“In the end, you can only take the allowed number of players to Georgia, which meant heartbreak for several of them. We all feel for those young men; they will be hurting, and we are thankful for their fantastic attitude, hard work, and dedication.

“We will play to the best of our ability for our country and especially for them, and we hope to make everyone proud.”

The Junior Boks are grouped in Pool A with Wales, Georgia, and Uruguay, and will be based in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi for the pool stages.

The ranking playoffs will take place on July 12 and 13, with the remaining ranking playoffs on July 17, followed by the third-place encounter and final on July 18.

Junior Boks’ 2026 World Junior Championship squad:

Props: Oliver Reid (Stormers), Rambo Kubheka (Sharks), Jordan Jooste (Stormers), Danie Kruger (Stormers), Luan van der Berg (Bulls).

Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Sharks), Liam van Wyk (Sharks).

Locks: Heinrich Theron (Bulls), Jaythen Orange (Lions), Riley Norton (captain, Stormers), JD Hattingh (Lions).

Loose forwards: Kebotile Maake (Bulls), Risima Khosa (Lions), Luke Cannon (Lions), Wasi Vyambwera (Sharks), Vuyo Gwiji (Lions), Gert Kemp (Stormers), Thomas Beling (Lions)*.

Scrumhalves: Hendré Schoeman (Bulls), Jayden Brits (Stormers).

Flyhalves: Yaqeen Ahmed (Stormers), Vusi Moyo (Sharks).

Centres: Ethan Adams (Lions), Samuel Badenhorst (Stormers), Markus Muller (Stormers).

Outside and utility backs: Luan Giliomee (Sharks), Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (Sharks), Cheswill Jooste (Bulls), Jack Benade (Stormers), Jordan Steenkamp (Stormers)*, Zekhethelo Siyaya (Sharks), Alzeadon Felix (Lions).