Junior Bok hopefuls in training

An expanded SA Under-20 training squad of 70 players will gather in Stellenbosch on Sunday for atwo-month training camp ahead of the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship in New Zealand.

The group will play trial matches on Monday, March 31 and Wednesday April 2 in Stellenbosch. Following the trials, the squad will be reduced to approximately 40 players to continue with preparations ahead of the Junior World Championships (JWC), which will be held in Auckland from June 2-20.

Dawie Theron, the SA U20 coach and members of the SARU Mobi-Unit will guide the players through a series of planning, field and conditioning sessions before a short break for the Easter holidays.  SARU will announce the SA Under-20 JWC squad of 28 players on Tuesday, April 22.

The training camp will include two trial matches, daily training, conditioning and strategic planning sessions, as well as a much-anticipated three-match international series against the Argentina Under-20 side.

Last month, the SA U20 coach and the SARU Mobi-Unit hosted one-day planning sessions in Johannesburg and Cape Town, where the coach shared his vision and mission for the upcoming camp, among other things.

Next week's trial matches will give the players the opportunity to play themselves into contention for selection for the reduced training group before the final JWC squad is selected.

"The gathering of the large group of players will be the culmination of an extensive period of work behind the scenes where we meticulously planned the two-month training camp and identified the large pool of players," said Theron.

He added he was very pleased with the game time the majority of the players have been afforded so far this season.

"Thanks to the excellent relationship and constant communication between SARU and the various provincial coaches, I am pleased with the amount of game time these players have had this season.

"It is a huge improvement from previous years, and hopefully it will count in our favour as we go in search of the title," explained Theron.

Sharks centre André Esterhuizen, Bulls flyhalf Handré Pollard and Bulls outside back Jessie Kriel were not considered for the camp due to Super Rugby commitments.

Furthermore, the SARU medical team and their provincial colleagues will continue to monitor the rehabilitation programmes of injured players Kevin Kaba (EP Kings, knee), Ryno Eksteen (WP, knee), Duhan van der Merwe (Blue Bulls, knee), Grant Hermanus (Paarl Gymnasium, hamstring).

The players who were selected for the original training group, but will not be travelling to Stellenbosch for the trials, will still be considered for inclusion in the official JWC squad.

Players competing in the Varsity Cup Young Guns Final on Monday will be requested to report for duty in Stellenbosch on Tuesday, April 1.

Players selected in their respective provincial union's starting lineups in the Vodacom Cup for the weekend of April 4/5 will be released back to their unions on Thursday, April 3 in preparation of these fixtures.

Players representing their Universities in either the Varsity Cup promotion/relegation fixture or the Varsity Cup Final, which will both take place on April 7, will also be released on Thursday, April 3 in preparation for those matches.

SA U20 squad: Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Dan Kriel, Pierre Schoeman, Duncan Mathews, JP Smith, Corniel Els, Wilco Louw, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Abongile Nonkontwana, Arno van Wyk, Leighton van Wyk, Janse van Rensburg, RG Snyman, Heinrich Viljoen, Kobus Marais, Warrick Gelant, Ganfried May, Marcus Kleinbooi, Chris Massyn, Nqoba Mxoli, Malcom Marx, Michael Hazner, Ramone Samuels, Jaco Van der Walt, Jano Venter, Thabo Mabuza, Victor Sisekete, Christiaan Meyer, Pieter Scholtz, Stephan Vermeulen, Cyle Brink, Dylan Smith, Kock Marx, Hillford Clarke, Dean Stokes, Lloyd Greef, Ox Nche, Joseph Dweba, Mthokozisi Mkhabela, Nicolaas Lee, Aidon Davis, Sergeal Petersen, Thomas du Toit, Gideon Koegelenberg, Chris de Beer, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Dan du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez, Neil Maritz, Sandile Khubeka, Cameron Wright, Ayron Schramm, Ray Williams, Sias Koen, Alrin Eksteen, JD Schickerling, Jacques Vermeulen, Ernst Stapelberg, Daniel du Plessis, Jarryd Sage, SP Ferreira, Justin Phillips, Dewald Naude, Chad Solomon, Frans van Wyk, Jan Uys, EW Viljoen, Rikus Bothma.

SA U20 camp details:

Camp One:

31 March – 16 April

Stellenbosch Academy of Sport

Camp Two:

23 April – 17 May

Stellenbosch Academy of Sport and Cape Town

SA U20 international friendlies vs Argentina U20:

9 May: City Park Stadium, Cape Town

13 May: Paul Roos, Stellenbosch

17 May: Saldanha Rugby Club, Saldanha

JWC Holding camp:

23 – 26 May

Stellenbosch Academy of Sport

SA U20 2014 JWC fixtures:

2 June: SA vs Scotland (North Harbor)

6 June: SA vs New Zealand (North Harbor)

10 June: SA vs Samoa (Pukekohe)

15 June: Playoffs (TBC)

20 June: Finals (Auckland)