Five Junior Springbok World Champions join SA U19 Academy for European tour

The triumphant Junior Boks who are part of the training squad are SA U20 captain Riley Norton (lock), props Oliver Reid and Phiwayinkosi "Rambo" Kubheka, hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele, and flyhalf Vusi Moyo.

The 36-man squad will assemble at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sports (SAS) next Wednesday (22 October), before heading to Europe a week later, where they will play two matches in France and one game in Ireland.

The U19 Academy programme is the front-runner project towards the selection of the official Junior Bok squad, who will play in the U20 Rugby Championship before defending their world crown in Georgia next year.

Also included in the squad are 17 players who represented the SA U18s in 2024, and nine who were picked for last year's SA U18 ‘A'-side, proving the prolific efficiency of the Elite Player Development (EPD) programme.

None of this year's SA Schools or SA U18 representatives were included in the U19 squad because of school exams but they will be considered for the next camps, planned for December and January.

Junior Bok coach Kevin Foote said the Stellenbosch camp and two-week overseas tour presents the players with a great opportunity to experience travelling and connecting as a group.

"This tour will give the players the chance to gain clarity of our game model and experience our Junior Boks culture," said Foote.

"We are hugely grateful to SA Rugby for their support in arranging this tour at the backend of the year."

The Junior Bok coach also explained the selection process: "We've picked only U19 players for this specific tour as we want the U18s to concentrate on finishing their exams and school year. The U18s already had a big year with the FNB Craven Week, the SA Schools match and the successful U18 International Series."

As for the potential and objectives of this group, Foote said: "This is such a great opportunity for the U19's – whom we've selected from our domestic U19 and U21 Cup competitions – to put up their hands for national colours and working towards next year's World Rugby U20 Championship.

"From a coaching perspective, this period gives the coaching staff the opportunity to look closer at the group of players and to mentor them in our environment. The group of 36 will stay together for a week before a squad of 31 players will head to France and Ireland."

SA U19 Academy training squad

Forwards: Oliver Reid, Phiwayinkosi Kubheka, Aphiwe Shelembe, Ulrich van der Merwe, Danie Kruger, Henry du Plessis, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Mahle Sithole, Liam van Wyk, Heinrich Theron, James Schnetler, Riley Norton, JD Hattingh, Tom Barnard, Kebotile Maake, Vuyo Gwiji, Risima Khosa, Luke Canon, Bohlala Mapisa, Aiden de Costa, Reuben Kruger.

Backs: Brooklyn Newman, Adeeb Boraine, Elgernon Meyer, Vusi Moyo, Luan Giliomee, Pieter van der Merwe, Janco Purchase, Samuel Badenhorst, Gregan Jansen, Dylan Miller, Unathi Mlotshwa, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, Adriano Jackson, Lindsey Jansen, Akahluwa Boqwana.