Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus cast his net wide for the first alignment camp. He named a 49-man squad for the Cape Town gathering. The camp runs from 3 to 6 March. The coaches are already preparing for the 2026 season. The squad includes 11 uncapped players. Five of them still compete in the Junior Bok ranks. Fourteen Rugby World Cup winners also feature in the group. Notably, Frans Malherbe returns after injury setbacks.
Young Talent and Fresh Faces Step Forward
Erasmus included several exciting young prospects. Riley Norton, Cheswill Jooste, and Siphosethu Mnebelele earned call-ups. Kai Pratt and Markus Muller also join the squad. Additionally, Emmanuel Tshituka and Jaco Williams received first invitations. Paul de Villiers and Zachary Porthen complete the new faces.
The camp will feature boardroom and gymnasium sessions. Coaches will outline plans and expected standards. They are building toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
A virtual camp will follow for 21 overseas-based players. Erasmus welcomed the group and said: “This is an exciting group of players who have all made a strong statement for their respective provincial unions, and we are delighted to have some of the finest young talent in the country attending the camp to expose them to our environment and structures.
“Bathobele, Haashim, and Cheswill trained with us for a few days last year, and we saw how valuable that experience was for them, so hopefully, all the young players and those attending their first alignment camp will also gain a greater understanding of how the team operates.”
Advanced Planning as International Season Nears
Erasmus confirmed preparations are at an advanced stage. The international season starts on 20 June against the Barbarians.
He praised the management team’s hard work. “The coaches and management staff have been working around the clock to ensure that we are as prepared as possible for what will be a challenging season, and all the operational and logistical aspects are in place for everything to run as smoothly as possible, so we are excited for the season ahead,” said the Bok coach.
“The next step is to start working with the players and getting them into the swing of things, so we are delighted about this opportunity to get everyone aligned.”
The Springboks will host a second alignment camp in May. They will then face England, Scotland, and Wales locally. Later, they travel to Argentina and meet the All Blacks. The season ends with Tests in Europe and a Finals Weekend in London.
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