Two rookies make Baby Boks cut

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: South African junior coach Kevin Foote has included five players who will feature in their second World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Italy.

Lock Riley Norton was retained as captain for the tournament which will be staged from June 29 to July 19.

Phiwayinkosi Kubheka (prop) and Ian van der Merwe (flyhalf) have not played for the SA U20 before.

Jaco Grobbelaar (lock), Stephanus Linde (No.8) and Jaco Williams (outside back) are back in the squad after missing the recent U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha.

Kubheka played for the SA Under-18 team last year and Van der Merwe in 2023, while Linde toured with the Junior Boks in Georgia earlier this year before he picked up an injury which ruled him out of the Rugby Championship.

Grobbelaar and Williams were involved with the United Rugby Championship squads with the Bulls and Sharks, respectively.

Grobbelaar is one of the five players who are returning for a second World Rugby Championship stint, alongside utility forward Bathobele Hlekani, prop Herman Lubbe, loose forward Wandile Mlaba and scrumhalf Haashim Pead.

Furthermore, six players who are still U19 have been included in the squad, which bodes well for next season.

They are Kubheka and his fellow prop Oliver Reid, Siphosethu Mnebelele (hooker), Norton (lock), Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), and Cheswill Jooste (outside back).

According to Foote, the final selection process was a very difficult task and he and the coaching staff are very pleased with the final squad.

“The boys have all been superb in their attitude and application and most of the group have been together since November last year, when the SA Under-19 academy programme kicked off in Stellenbosch,” said Foote.

“I want to thank every player who have been part of the various training groups, for their amazing effort.

“The schools and provincial unions also deserve a huge amount of credit for the way in which they have prepared our players.

“The provincial unions must be commended for their excellent cooperation during the numerous training camps, our successful tour to Georgia and the Rugby Championship.”

The training squad of 37 players were reduced to the official squad size of 30 players who will represent South Africa from the end of the month against the best U20 players in the world.

“We selected a good group of players who are determine to do the country proud with their performances on the field of play and their conduct off-field,” said Foote.

“It was an enormously difficult task to cut the squad to 30 players and we all feel for those guys who did not make the final selection.

“I want to say thank you to them for their positive attitude and their great effort at all times, they will remain on standby, and we will not hesitate to call any of them up should the need arise.

“Congratulations to the 30 who were selected; what an honour to represent your country against the best in world.”

The squad will continue with their preparations in Stellenbosch until their departure to Italy on June 24.

The Junior Boks open their campaign in Italy on June 29 against Australia in Calvisano, before they take on England on July 4 in Rovigo, and their final pool fixture is on July 9 against Scotland, also in Calvisano.

South Africa Under-20

Props: Jean Erasmus (Bulls), Phiwayinkosi Kubheka (Sharks), Herman Lubbe (Western Province), Simphiwe Ngobese (Sharks), Oliver Reid (Western Province).
Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Bulls), Jaundré Schoeman (Bulls).
Locks: Jaco Grobbelaar (Bulls), Riley Norton (captain, Western Province), JJ Theron (Bulls), Morné Venter (Lions).
Loose forwards: Thando Biyela (Lions), Bathobele Hlekani (Sharks), Wandile Mlaba (Western Province), Xola Nyali (Western Province), Matt Romao (Sharks), Stephanus Linde (Cheetahs).
Scrumhalves: Ceano Everson (Sharks), Haashim Pead (Lions), Erich Visser (Cheetahs).
Flyhalves: Vusi Moyo (Sharks), Ian van der Merwe (Bulls).
Centres: Albie Bester (Sharks), Gino Cupido (Western Province), Demitre Erasmus (Bulls), Dominic Malgas (Western Province).
Outside backs: Cheswill Jooste (Bulls), Gilermo Mentoe (Lions), Siya Ndlozi (Western Province), Jaco Williams (Sharks).

South Africa fixtures

Pool A
Sunday, June 29: v Australia, Stadio San Michele (Calvisano)
Friday, July 4: v England U20, Stadio Mario Battaglini (Rovigo)
Wednesday, July 9: v Scotland, June Stadio San Michele (Calvisano)

Play-offs:
Monday, July 14: Semifinals (Verona and Viadana)
Saturday, July 19: Final and ranking matches (Calvisano and Rovigo)