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The Citizen
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Rassie Erasmus picks Varsity Cup star among Bok rookies
Winger Ntokozo Makhaza is one of nine uncapped players in a 54-man Springbok squad named by Rassie Erasmus for the start of the world champions' 2025 season. The Boks face the Barbarians at Cape Town Stadium on June 28, followed by three Tests – against Italy (in Pretoria and Gqeberha on July 5 and 12) and Georgia (in Mbombela, July 9). The squad, which was confirmed today, includes 31 world cup winners and consists of 30 forwards and 24 backs. Makhaza, who helped the UCT Ikeys win the 2025 Varsity Cup in April, is in line to represent the Boks for the first time with Marnus van der Merwe, Neethling Fouche, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Cobus Wiese, Renzo du Plessis, Vincent Tshituka, Juarno Augustus and Ethan Hooker. While Fouche and Hooker were members of the Springbok training squad last season, Tshituka and Augustus had a taste of the senior international structures after being included in the Springbok Showdown Green and Gold squads in 2020. With the Vodacom Bulls, Sharks and Leinster still in the race for the URC final, along with their teammates from Bath, Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks, who will contest the Premiership semi-finals this week, a staggered approach will be adopted to those players joining the camp. MORE: Baa Baas get 170-cap boost for Bok clash The available players, which include the full Japan-based contingent following the conclusion of their season, will assemble in Johannesburg on Sunday and begin their on-field preparations on Monday. The rest of the players will join the squad as they complete their club commitments. Five players, meanwhile, were not considered for selection due to injuries: Frans Malherbe, Elrigh Louw, Ben-Jason Dixon, Deon Fourie and Trevor Nyakane. 'We used a total of 50 players last season to balance the load on them, while at the same time building towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, and with a few more talented youngsters in this group, we hope that they will learn valuable lessons and stake a strong claim for places in what will be a challenging, yet exciting season,' said Erasmus. The squad will train from Monday to Friday, before returning home for the weekend to spend time with their families, and will reassemble on Sunday, 15 June for the second week of training, before travelling to Cape Town for the Barbarians match. Full Springbok Squad: Forwards: Cameron Hanekom, Wilco Louw, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Bulls), Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Vincent Tshituka (Sharks), Neethling Fouche, Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Renzo du Plessis, Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Juarno Augustus (Northampton Saints), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks). Backs: Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams (Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie (Bulls), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse (Stormers), Quan Horn, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe (Lions), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Ntokozo Makhaza (UCT). This article first appeared on SA Rugby magazine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
IOL News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
UCT rugby sensation Ntokozo Makhaza shocked by Boks alignment camp call up
UCT student and rugby sensation Ntokozo Makhaza has been selected for the Springboks' latest alignment camp. Image: Lerato Maduna BEING selected for the Springboks' latest alignment camp was the last thing on University of Cape Town (UCT) student and rugby sensation Ntokozo Makhaza's mind. After all, the 23-year-old has not yet signed to a professional franchise and is still completing his degree. It's his performances during the recent FNB Varsity Cup that not only saw his Ikey Tigers side clinching the title, but earned him a spot in the country's top 54 players considered for national selection. 'I actually thought they were just reaching out to congratulate me on the Varsity Cup season. It didn't sink in until I saw the official announcement on the Springboks' social media page. I was very surprised that I'm part of the camp; a bit nervous, but excited. I'm just happy and motivated to see that people are watching and monitoring varsity rugby. It inspired me to believe more that the dreams I have are possible.' The Springbok invitation is the latest milestone in what has already been a standout year for Makhaza. He dominated the 2025 Varsity Cup, guiding the UCT Ikey Tigers to victory and earning both Player of the Year and Backline Player of the Year honours – for the second consecutive year. Born in Harrismith in the Free State, Makhaza grew up playing soccer, but switched to rugby in primary school, quickly falling in love with the sport. Inspired by smaller, strategic players like Patrick Lambie, he found his place on the field as a fast, intelligent backline player. He said he is focused on absorbing everything he can during the Springbok alignment camp. 'If anyone would say I would be part of the Springbok aligning camp a few years back or even at the beginning of this year I would have looked at them and laughed. To me it's an honour and I'm privileged and humbled. I think it's been created by the coaches and players because of the opportunity and platform they gave me. I'm humbled and excited for the opportunity. 'To be in the camp is an awesome opportunity of learning for me. The main goal is to learn and absorb as much as I can so that when I join the Cheetahs I'm better than when I was here at UCT. I'm always looking to improve and get better, and I know the camp will provide me with a lot of detail and I will find a lot of growth there.' In July 2025, Makhaza will take the next step in his career by joining the Free State Cheetahs for the upcoming Currie Cup season – a move he sees as both a professional opportunity and a return home. 'They're giving youngsters a chance, and I want to make the most of that. It's about learning, growing and giving my best.' Cape Times
