Stormers number eight Evan Roos has been called up to Rassie Erasmus’ 55-man Springboks squad ahead of their Barbarians clash and upcoming mid-year matches.
The 25-year-old last played in the green and gold back in 2024, when he faced Portugal in Bloemfontein. Sadly, he’s failed to add any extra caps to his name after he was sidelined for many months with a severe shoulder injury.
The Springboks squad will arrive in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon, before starting their pre-series training on Monday.
A staggered Springbok arrival
Not all players will arrive on the same day; however, many are still required to complete their club responsibilities.
Springbok stars from the Bulls and Leinster will battle it out in the United Rugby Championship Grand Final at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday, while a few of their countrymen will compete as part of Bath and Leicester squads in the Premiership final on the same day.
Springbok dates
The Boks will kick off their season against the Barbarians in Cape Town on Saturday, June 28 in the first ever match between the sides on South African soil, before taking on Italy in back-to-back Tests in Pretoria and Gqeberha on July 5 and 12, and Georgia in Nelspruit on July 19 in the Castle Lager Incoming Series.
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Roos a replacement for Hanekom?
The suggestion from many fans is that Roos arrives at the squad as a direct replacement for Cameron Hanekom, who was injured at the weekend.
During the Bulls’ win over the Sharks, the young back-rower was cleaned out at a ruck by Springboks captain Siya Kolisi, and appeared to be in quite some distress, needing to be removed from the field via golf cart after receiving on-field treatment.
Speaking to rugby365com after the match, Bulls head coach Jake White said: “He’s being given a scan. Obviously, he’s very upset, which is natural.
“I told his parents earlier in the changing room that they must remember he is 21 [years old].
“When it is swollen and there’s blood on it, it is tough to see.
“They had a look and he won’t play next week [in the URC Final], that I can tell you.
“He thinks he can. He said he might go to the same doctor [Johan] Goosen went to. He can’t travel with such an injury. I’m hoping for his sake it’s like Goosen’s – a short-term rather than a long-term injury.”
Hanekom has not yet been removed from the squad, but his expected recovery time will no doubt dictate when he plays in the Springboks shirt this summer.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/springboks-confirm-evan-roos-call-up-as-rassie-erasmus-handed-suspected-injury-headache
