Rassie adds more muscle to Bok squad

SQUAD UPDATE: Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus added an extra forward to his squad on Sunday for the matches against the Barbarians and mid-year Tests.

This increased the size of his group to 55 players.

Stormers No.8 Evan Roos, who attended the first alignment in Cape Town in February had been included in the Bok squad.

He has run out seven times in the Green and Gold.

Roos’ call-up comes after Bulls No.8 Cameron Hanekom suffered an injury during his side’s United Rugby Championship semifinal win over the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld at the weekend.

Hanekom was carted from the field with a hamstring injury following a clearout at a ruck from Springboks captain Siya Kolisi in the 48thg minure.

The recently crowned URC Next Generation Player of the Season was given a morphine whistle on the field and was seen on crutches after the match.

* VIDEO: Watch as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White gives an update on Hanekom’s injury

Roos’ last Test was against Portugal in Bloemfontein in the 2024 mid-year Tests, before he was sidelined for several months due to shoulder surgery.

The Springbok squad will report for duty in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon and begin their on-field preparations on Monday.

The team will set the wheels in motion for the international season starting in under three weeks.

The Boks will kick off their season against the Barbarians in Cape Town on Saturday, June 28 in the first-ever match between the sides on South African soil, before taking on Italy in back-to-back Tests in Pretoria and Gqeberha on July 5 and 12, and Georgia in Nelspruit on July 19 in the Incoming Series.

The Bulls and Leinster will be battling it out in the United Rugby Championship Grand Final at Croke Park in Dublin next week Saturday.

Bath and Leicester meeting in the Premiership Final on the same day. The players will join the squad based on a staggered approach, until the completion of respective club commitments.

Updated Springbok squad

Forwards: Juarno Augustus, Lood de Jager, Renzo du Plessis, Jean-Luc du Preez, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Neethling Fouche, Cameron Hanekom, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Salmaan Moerat, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Evan Roos, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Tshituka, Marco van Staden, Marnus van der Merwe, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese, Jasper Wiese.

Backs: Lukhanyo Am, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Quan Horn, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Makazole Mapimpi, Ntokozo Makhaza, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Edwilll van der Merwe, Damian Willemse, Grant Williams.

* Additional reporting @Springboks