Springboks call up No 8 Evan Roos for expanded squad
South Africa have called up No 8 Evan Roos into their bloated squad for the fixture against the Barbarians later this month and the July internationals against Italy and Georgia.
Roos was a surprise omission from the original squad named this week and brings the number of players to 55.
His inclusion comes after back row Cameron Hanekom limped out of the Bulls' United Rugby Championship semifinal win over the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, though there has been no suggestion the latter has been released from the squad.
The team will begin preparations in Johannesburg on Sunday, though without players from the Bulls and Leinster, who feature in the URC final this coming Saturday, and Bath and Leicester Tigers, who meet in the Premiership Rugby final in England on the same day.
The world champions kick off their season against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28, before taking on Italy in back-to-back tests in Pretoria and Gqeberha on July 5 and 12, and Georgia in Mbombela on July 19.
Reuters
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Gone, but not forgotten: Joost's son shares sweet tribute
The son of the late Springbok Joost van der Westhuizen paid a touching tribute to his famous father at the Loftus Versfeld stadium last weekend. Jordan, whose mother is Amor Vittone, was a teen when the rugby player died in 2017 of motor neurone disease. The now 21-year-old is a model and rising soccer star. Last weekend, Loftus was alight with excitement for the Bulls vs Sharks URC semi-final. Jordan, representing his famous father, donned a Bulls shirt in memory of his dad's home club. The young man, who bears a striking resemblance to his dad, showed off the words 'Dad, Joost' printed across the back. The sweet tribute acknowledged Joost's home at Loftus and the number 9, which was his jersey number for both the Pretoria club and the Springboks. Jordan's mom, Amor, posted the pictures on Facebook, liking comments from her followers who claimed that Joost would be 'proud' of his son. At the time of his death in 2017, Amor and Joost were separated after 15 years of marriage. The couple also have a daughter, 18-year-old Kylie. Jordan and friends at Loftus Versfeld Stadium tonight ❤️ #rugbyleague #Loftus #game #bullsrugby Posted by Amor Vittone on Saturday 7 June 2025 The son of the late Springbok and Bulls player, Jordan van der Westhuizen, is pursuing his own path in sports. But unlike rugby legend Joost, the 21-year-old has taken up soccer. Having previously played for the Valencia youth academy as a goalkeeper, Jordan later joined the UK's Reading Academy. And he's one step closer to his goal. According to Amor Vittone, Jordan is keen to one day play for his dream club, Liverpool. Apart from his love of soccer, Jordan is also a professional model, and he has signed up with the Ice Model Agency. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 .


The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
Kagiso Rabada shines for Proteas on seesaw opening day of Test final
The SA team were restricted to 43/4 at the close of play, trailing Australia by 169 runs in their first innings. Kagiso Rabada celebrates his fifth wicket on the opening day of the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's. Picture: Paul Harding/Gallo Images South Africa found themselves against the ropes late on Wednesday, despite controlling the game for most of the opening day of the World Test Championship final against Australia in London. With 14 wickets falling on day one, the global final got off to a spectacular start, with bowlers dominating for both teams. Though they did well to take control in the early stages of the match, the Proteas crumbled in the final session, as they stumbled to 43/4 at the close of play, trailing the defending champions by 169 runs with six wickets in hand in their first innings. Having bundled out the Baggy Greens for 212 runs in the final session, the SA team looked to be in the driving seat, but they lost their first four wickets for just 30 runs. Ryan Rickelton, who made 16 runs, was the only member of the Proteas' top five who hit double figures, as they were left flailing in the chase for South Africa's first global Test title. When stumps were drawn, captain Temba Bavuma was on three not out, after facing 37 balls as he tried to play out the day, and David Bedingham was unbeaten on eight. Australia first innings Earlier, Kagiso Rabada led the charge as the Proteas frontline attack ripped through Australia's line-up after the SA team won the toss and opted to field. Rabada took 5/51 – his 17th career five-wicket haul – and his second at Lord's, after he achieved the feat against England in August 2022. And he was well backed by Marco Jansen, who returned 3/49, as the Baggy Greens were bundled out 212 within 57 overs in their first innings. After losing four wickets in the first session, Steve Smith and Beau Webster shared 79 runs for the fifth wicket before Smith was removed by Marco Jansen for 66 to break the stand. Webster went on to contribute 72 runs, but Rabada and Jansen dismantled the lower order shortly after lunch, and it looked like Australia were in trouble before their bowling attack hit back.


The South African
4 hours ago
- The South African
Springbok star hit by 2025 injury scare – Doubtful for the year
It's been a season to remember for loose forward Cameron Hanekom, who has broken onto the scene at the tender age of 21, earning a Springbok debut last year and recently winning URC's Next-Gen Player of the Season. His versatile skills have captivated Rassie Erasmus, who handed the Paarl Boy native his Springbok debut last year, a player who has been tipped as one of South Africa's next best talents. The green and gold's new star. The Bulls enforcer was forced off during his side's URC semi-final victory over Siya Kolisi's Sharks on Saturday and was later spotted sporting crutches on the sideline over what is believed to be a hamstring injury, ruling him out for the foreseeable future. A further assessment awaits, which will determine his recovery time, and whether he will be available for the Springboks this year; there's a chance he returns in August, while the worst case scenario has him ruled out for several months. We wish you a speedy recovery, Hanekom. Former Springbok coach, now Bulls boss Jake White provided the latest update regarding the Springbok youngster's injury, saying, 'He's just having a sonar (scan) now. Obviously he's very upset, that's natural. But I said to his parents now that we forget he's just 21,' 'When I started coaching, 21 year old forwards weren't invited to Northern Transvaal training. And if they were it was really to be cannon fodder for the old men to bash them on a Monday night (in training).' 'So he's obviously jumped the queue because he's so talented, and he feels a bit down now. But we mustn't forget he's just 21 years old, and there's still a lot of rugby that he's going to be involved in over the next few years.' 'When it is swollen and there's blood (in the injury), you can't really see (how bad it is). They had a look and he won't play next week, that I can tell you. He thinks he can. He said he might go to the same doctor (Johan) Goosen went to (after a recent knee injury that also looked very serious),' he said. 'But I can't see it. He can't travel with that injury. I'm hoping for his sake it's like Goosen, a short-term rather than a long-term injury.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.