• Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has invited 56 players to an alignment camp in Cape Town.
  • The camp will include 18 players from the 2023 Rugby World Cup-winning squad and will also see newcomers like Jurenzo Julius and others getting their first exposure to Springbok rugby.
  • This camp, the first of three, aims to set the stage for a challenging season, which includes matches against Italy and Georgia in July.
  • For more Springbok news, visit our dedicated section.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has invited an extended squad of 56 players to an alignment camp in Cape Town next month as preparations for the 2025 international season begin. 

All players are based in South Africa and are spread out between the Sharks, Stormers, Bulls and Lions. 

With a host of players based overseas, Erasmus has broadened the pool as wide as possible with the 2027 World Cup and an effort at a third successive Webb Ellis Cup in mind. 

The three-day camp from 10-12 March will see the players spending the bulk of their time in the boardroom engaging in meetings, while the overseas-based players will engage in similar sessions over video conference call. 

The large number of players included makes it impossible to read too much into what Erasmus is thinking in terms of his plans for the year, but one name that stood out immediately was that of 38-year-old Deon Fourie, who is back in the mix after missing 2024 with injury.  

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The group includes 18 players from the 2023 Rugby World Cup-winning squad – 10 of which were also crowned champions at Japan 2019, and five of whom participated in the 2015 international extravaganza – with an additional 22 capped national players named in the group.

The likes of Jurenzo Julius, JF van Heerden and Reinhardt Ludwig will get their first taste of Springbok rugby.

“Our alignment camps have proven invaluable in the last few years as it offers us the opportunity to present our structures for the season, as well as the Springbok culture and way of doing things,” said Erasmus.

“The focus at this camp will be to get everyone on the same page for the 2025 season, which will be vital in laying a good foundation for us to build on with a challenging campaign coming up.

“Most of these players have formed part of our structures at some stage in the last seven years, and their experience and familiarity with the way we do things at the Springboks will be invaluable in guiding the younger players, while others have been exposed to our structures before, so they have a good understanding of the way we operate. 

“I’m also excited for the new players in the mix, who have made their mark at franchise level, and we are excited to see them receive this opportunity to get a taste of what is expected of them at the highest level.”

This will mark the first of three alignment camps as the Springboks lay the foundation for the international season, which will see the world champions and Rugby Championship title holders face Italy in back-to-back Tests on 5 and 12 July, followed by a clash against Georgia on 19 July.

Players invited to Springbok alignment camp:

Forwards:

Ethan Bester, Phepsi Buthelezi, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane (all Sharks); Ben-Jason Dixon, Joseph Dweba, Neethling Fouche, Deon Fourie, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter (all Stormers); Renzo du Plessis, Francke Horn, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter (all Lions); Johan Grobbelaar, Celimpilo Gumede, Cameron Hanekom, Wilco Louw, Reinhardt Ludwig, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Akker van der Merwe, JF van Heerden, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Bulls).

Backs:

Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Jurenzo Julius, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams (all Sharks); Paul de Wet, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse (all Stormers); Quan Horn, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe, Henco van Wyk (all Lions); Sebastian de Klerk, David Kriel, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Embrose Papier (all Vodacom Bulls)

Src: News24.com