Rassie Erasmus calls up 39 players, including 4 debutants, plus a waiting list of 14 possible additions
Summer Series: South Africa’s squad for the Ireland matches ph. S. Pessina
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has named his squad for the Castle Lager Incoming Series with Ireland and the July 20 Test match with Portugal.
The 52-year-old Springboks head coach has drawn up a list of 39 players plus a waiting list of 14 players who will join the world champions’ training in the coming weeks, and could be called up at short notice if they suffer injuries during tests with Ireland.
In the group of 39 players, 4 are rookies: Johan Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Wessels of the Bulls, Phepsi Buthelezi of the Sharks and Morne van den Berg of the Lions. Added to these are attacking midfielders Cheslin Kolbe and Lukhanyo Am, who joined the team at various stages during the training camp in Pretoria to carry out post-injury rehabilitation under the supervision of the Bok medical team.
Also named in the squad were Handre Pollard and Jasper Wiese, who trained with the squad but were ineligible as the Test against Wales was outside the international window.
Rassie Erasmus also called up Rugby World Cup winners Siya Kolisi, captain in the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, and RG Snyman. Both joined the squad in London following their commitments to the club as did Marco van Staden, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Willie le Roux who concluded URC’s season on Saturday 22 June with the Bulls in the final which they lost to Glasgow Warriors.
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Summer Series: Rassie Erasmus’ statements
“We have named the best squad available for the Castle Incoming Series and, with squad depth being one of our key pillars as we approach the 2027 Rugby World Cup, we thought it would be beneficial for us to nominate a reserve squad with some players joining us in sporadic training over the next few weeks,” said the former Cheethas and Stormers coach.
Rassie Erasmus added: “This year marks the start of the journey towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup, so we would like to continue to expose players to international rugby with an eye towards this goal.”
The squad gathered in Pretoria on Tuesday and will continue with their training programme, despite arriving in South Africa a day later than expected after their flight from London was canceled on Sunday evening. The players will return home for the weekend to spend time with their families and will resume their training program on Monday 1 July to prepare for the All-Ireland match at Loftus Versfeld.
Summer Series: South Africa’s squad
After you
Phepsi Buthelezi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks). Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Racing 92), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92/Hollywoodbets Sharks), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Blu Revs), RG Snyman (Munster/Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls ), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers).
Three-quarters
Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins/Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg -Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Wilie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions), Edwill van der Merwe (Emirates Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Waiting list
After you: Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Joseph Dweba, Neethling Fouche (both DHL Stormers), Celimpilo Gumede, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw (all Vodacom Bulls), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruben van Heerden (DHL Stormers), Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers).
Three-quarters: Suleiman Hartzenberg (DHL Stormers), Jordan Hendrikse (Emirates Lions), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Emirates Lions), Siya Masuku (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
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