Riley Norton to captain exciting Junior Bok squad in U20 Rugby Championship

Head coach Kevin Foote has selected four players from the South African U20 side that lifted the Junior World Championship title in Italy last year, alongside a host of the country's most exciting emerging talents.

Alongside Riley Norton, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Oliver Reid and Vusi Moyo were also part of last year's triumphant Junior Bok side.

They are joined in the squad by promising youngsters Markus Muller and Ethan Adams (both centres), Gert Kemp (No 8) and Kai Pratt (prop), all of whom represented the SA U18 team last year.

The group was selected from a 43-man SA U20 training squad that has been preparing for the upcoming SANZAAR Under-20 Rugby Championship during a two-week camp in Stellenbosch.

Cheswill Jooste (wing) and Zekhethelo Siyaya (fullback) have been placed on standby due to commitments in the United Rugby Championship, along with Jade Muller and Akahluwa Boqwana.

There were also late changes to the squad, with former Wynberg Boys' High School lock Jaythen Orange and UCT Rugby Club midfielder Olunje Mehlomakulu called up to replace the injured AJ Meyer and Christian Vorster.

Injury also forced Luan Giliomee out of contention, with the South Africa national rugby sevens team utility back sidelined by a niggle that ruled him out of the latest training camp.

Reflecting on the final selection, head coach Kevin Foote admitted trimming the squad from 43 players down to 31 for the tournament was a challenging process.

"We asked a lot of the group over the past two weeks, because we wanted to step up the intensity and increase their fitness, and they responded splendidly," said Foote.

"We know from experience that the southern hemisphere teams play a high tempo game, and we are looking forward to playing an exciting brand of rugby with lots of ball in play.

"We tailored our camp programme around those focus areas, so that we can prepare our players accordingly for what they will encounter in the Rugby Championship. We also continued to work hard on our cohesion and our game model, and the coaching staff are very pleased with the effort of all the young men.

"Unfortunately, we can only take a squad of 31, and so we feel for those players who missed out on final selection. We will fine-tune our final preparations in Gqeberha before our opening match on 27 April against Argentina."

With the Junior World Championship in Georgia scheduled for June and July firmly in sight, the Junior Bok coach stressed that the door remains open for players who missed out on selection, as well as those not involved in the current training camp. He also expressed his gratitude to the provincial unions and franchises for their role in preparing the players ahead of the camp.

Junior Springbok squad for the U20 Rugby Championship

Forwards

Oliver Reid, Rambo Kubheka, Jordan Jooste, Danie Kruger, Kai Pratt, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Liam van Wyk, Heinrich Theron, Riley Norton (captain), JD Hattingh, Jaythen Orange, Kebotile Maake, Risima Khosa, Luke Canon, Thomas Beling, Wasi Vyambwera, Gert Kemp.

Backs

Hendré Schoeman, Jayden Brits, Yaqeen Ahmed, Vusi Moyo, Ethan Adams, Samuel Badenhorst, Markus Muller, Olunje Mehlomakulu, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, Lindsey Jansen, Jack Benade, Jade Muller*, Akahluwa Boqwana*, Alzeadon Felix, Cheswill Jooste*, Zekhethelo Siyaya*.

Note: Players marked with an asterisk are on standby. The squad will be finalised on completion of the weekend's Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixtures and depending on medical reports.