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The Herald
3 days ago
- General
- The Herald
Junior Boks put Gqeberha heartache behind them
After the disappointment of ending third at the four-team U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha in May, the Junior Boks are ramping up preparations for the World Rugby Championship, which kicks off in Italy on June 29. Two training sessions against a visiting senior Kenyan side have been included in a three-week training camp which starts in Stellenbosch on Monday. The meetings with Kenya will be match simulation exercises, with the first set for June 9 and the second five days later on June 14, in Stellenbosch. Junior Bok coach Kevin Foote has included three new players in a training squad. He has welcomed back several familiar faces who are back from injury and United Rugby Championship duty in addition to three newcomers in Rambo Kubheka (loosehead prop), Shaun Schürman (hooker) and Ian van der Merwe (flyhalf). Returning to the squad are locks Jaco Grobbelaar and Arno van der Merwe, No 8 Stephanus Linde, and outside backs Jaco Williams and Alzeadon Felix. ' Rambo, who played for the SA U18s last year, has been doing very well for Hollywoodbets Sharks in the SA Rugby U21 Cup, while Shaun and Ian, a very good game driver and left-footed kicker, have also been in good form for the Vodacom Bulls U21s,' Foote said. 'Jaco Grobbelaar, who played for the Junior Boks last year, is back from his Vodacom URC duty with the Vodacom Bulls and will join us in week two, and Stephanus, who toured with us to Georgia earlier this year, returns after he picked up a knee injury in the FNB Varsity Cup. 'It's also good to welcome back from injury Jaco Williams, who has been training with the Sharks' URC team, Alzeadon Felix, who had a good Varsity Cup campaign, and Arno van der Merwe.' Foote said HB Odendaal (hooker), Neil Hansen (lock), Divan Fuller (flanker), and Matt Romao (flanker) have been ruled out due to injury, while JC Mars (fullback) would join the squad as soon as he had shrugged off a hamstring niggle. 'We're a very settled team now, with some guys coming back from injury and unfortunately some players being injured while on duty for their provinces in the SA Rugby U21 Cup,' Foote . 'We've kept the core of the squad together for a long time now; they're a great team off the field and have a good connection, which we think is very important for us going into the World Championship, also understanding how we want to play and our game model. 'There has been a lot of work done over the last few camps, including the tour to Georgia and the U20 Rugby Championship. 'Though we didn't get the results against Australia and New Zealand in Gqeberha, we've taken a lot of good learning from those experiences, and we feel we are very close to where we want to be.' Junior Springbok training squad: Props: Simphiwe Ngobese (Sharks), Ranon Fouché (Bulls), Oliver Reid (Western Province), Kubheka (Sharks), Jean Erasmus (Bulls), Tebogo Nkosi (Cheetahs), Herman Lubbe (Western Province). Hookers: Juandré Schoeman (Bulls), Siphosethu Mnebelele (Bulls), Shaun Schürmann (Bulls). Locks: Jaco Grobbelaar (Bulls), Riley Norton (Western Province), Arno van der Merwe (Cheetahs), Morné Venter (Lions), JJ Theron (Bulls), Zuko Phoswa (Western Province). Loose forwards: Xola Nyali (Western Province), Thando Biyela (Lions), Batho Hlekani (Sharks), Stephanus Linde (Cheetahs), Wandile Mlaba (Western Province). Scrumhalves: Haashim Pead (Lions), Ceano Everson (Sharks), Erich Visser (Cheetahs). Flyhalves: Vusi Moyo (Sharks), Ian van der Merwe (Bulls). Centres: Albie Bester (Sharks), Demitre Erasmus (Bulls), Gino Cupido (Western Province). Outside backs: Jaco Williams (Sharks), Siya Ndlozi (Western Province), Cheswill Jooste (Bulls), Gilermo Mentoe (Lions), Alzeadon Felix (Lions), Scott Nel (Sharks). Utility back: Dominic Malgas (Western Province). The Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
Rassie Erasmus: It was great to meet Springbok newcomers
Earlier this month it was confirmed that Juarno Augustus, Vincent Tshituka, and Ntokozo Makhaza had been invited to their first Springbok alignment camp, which has just concluded this week. Augustus, who was named the World Rugby U20 Player of the Year after a sterling performance for the Junior Boks in Georgia in 2017, was one of the newcomers who joined a virtual session. Meanwhile, Varsity Cup star Ntokozo Makhaza earned a surprise call-up along with Congo-born Vincent Tshituka, who has just qualified to play for South Africa. The Springboks will launch their 2025 season on Saturday, 28 June against the Barbarians in Cape Town, before embarking on the Incoming Series and Rugby Championship, and will wrap up the season with the traditional end-of-the-year tour. 'One could sense the excitement and enthusiasm among the players and coaches to be back together, and to align on our objectives and plans for the season,' said Erasmus. 'It was also great to have the new additions to the squad, Vincent Tshituka and Ntokozo Makhaza, at the camp, as well as Juarno Augustus, who was one of the players invited to join online, where they were exposed to our structures for the first time. 'They gelled in quickly, and it was encouraging to see how they soaked up the information presented to them.' Players invited to Springbok alignment camp in Cape Town (in alphabetical order): Forwards: Renzo du Plessis (Emirates Lions), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi (both Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu (both Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Emirates Lions), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks). Backs: Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi (all Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker (all Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Emirates Lions), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ntokozo Makhaza (UCT), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Morne van den Berg, Edwilll van der Merwe (both Emirates Lions), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks). Players invited to virtual Springbok alignment camp (in alphabetical order): Forwards: Juarno Augustus (Northampton Saints), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Jean-Luc du Preez (both Sale Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (DynaBoars), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier). Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
15-05-2025
- Sport
Three major player call-ups to Springbok camp
On Thursday it was confirmed that Juarno Augustus, Vincent Tshituka, and Ntokozo Makhaza have been invited to their first Springbok alignment camps. Augustus, who was named the World Rugby U20 Player of the Year after a sterling performance for the Junior Boks in Georgia in 2017, has been a stand-out player for the Northampton Saints this season, while the Congolese-born Tshituka recently received his South African ID, clearing him to represent South Africa. Makhaza, meanwhile, will join the Toyota Cheetahs for the Carling Currie Cup, after being named 2024 FNB Varsity Cup Player of the Tournament, playing for the eventual champions, the University of Cape Town. The group include eight uncapped players – Augustus, Tshituka, Makhaza, Renzo du Plessis, Neethling Fouche, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Marnus van der Merwe, and Cobus Wiese. Five players, meanwhile, were not considered for the alignment camp due to injuries, namely Frans Malherbe, Elrigh Louw, Ben-Jason Dixon, Deon Fourie, and Trevor Nyakane. Erasmus was pleased with the quality of the group named and said: 'This is an exciting bunch of players who have all made their mark in their respective competitions this season, and we are thrilled to invite a few talented new players to the camp. 'They have all made a strong statement in big competitions under immense pressure at times, so we are looking forward to working with them.' Erasmus added: 'It's always difficult to reduce the size of the squad with the abundance of talent in South African rugby, but we were limited in the number of players we could select for the camp, and we are confident that we have sufficient cover in all positions within this group.' Players invited to Springbok alignment camp in Cape Town (in alphabetical order): Forwards: Renzo du Plessis (Emirates Lions), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi (both Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu (both Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Emirates Lions), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks). Backs: Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi (all Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker (all Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Emirates Lions), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ntokozo Makhaza (UCT), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Morne van den Berg, Edwilll van der Merwe (both Emirates Lions), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks). Players invited to virtual Springbok alignment camp (in alphabetical order): Forwards: Juarno Augustus (Northampton Saints), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Jean-Luc du Preez (both Sale Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (DynaBoars), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier). Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Belfast Telegraph
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Province aim to take big step towards Play-Offs in final home game
Ulster know they likely need to pick up some points in their final home game of the season if they are to make it into the United Rugby Championship Play-Offs as they welcome South African side the Hollywoodbets Sharks to Ravenhill on Saturday night (kick-off 7.35pm).
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Everitt plays 'significant role' in signing Richardson
Scotland's Dylan Richardson says head coach Sean Everitt played a "significant role" in ensuring he would sign for Edinburgh this versatile forward, 26, will join from Hollywoodbets Sharks on a two-year who can play at hooker and as a loose forward, made his Sharks debut in 2019 and has earned six Scotland caps to joining Edinburgh, Richardson said: "I'm incredibly excited for this next chapter in my career. Moving to Scotland and joining a club with such a strong history and passionate support base is a massive opportunity."Head coach Everitt guided the South African-born forward through the early years of his career at Kings Park Everitt's influence, Richardson said: "He has played a significant role in my development as a player, and having the chance to work under his leadership again is something I'm really looking forward to."His belief in my abilities and his vision for the team made the decision to join Edinburgh an easy one. I have a lot of respect for him as a coach and as a person, and I'm excited to be part of what he's building at the club."And Edinburgh boss Everitt added: "We're thrilled to welcome a player of Dylan's quality to Edinburgh. He's a strong and dynamic player who brings plenty of experience."His versatility, being able to play both hooker and in the back row, will be a real asset for us."
