Junior Boks tap into South African Rugby DNA as Ackermann arrives

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote expressed his satisfaction with the first of two SA Rugby Under-19 Academy camps, which ended in Stellenbosch on Sunday, with the second camp kicking off this weekend.

Foote and his coaching staff worked with a group of 48 players at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport, with the camp laying the foundation for the identification and preparation of the next generation of Junior Springboks.

The second camp, which starts on Sunday and will also run for two weeks until December 21, will be hosted at the same Stellenbosch venue, whereafter the 2025 SA Rugby Academy programme will commence in the new year. A host of new players were added to the squad.

Looking back at the first camp which ended last Sunday, Foote said he was delighted with the preparations and interactions between the new-look Junior Bok coaching and management group and the players.

“The focus of the two camps is to build trust and pay attention to performance, and I thought that the first camp did a good job in laying that foundation,” said Foote.

“We put emphasis on building trust with the players and the local rugby communities such as Stellenbosch, Boland and the surrounding areas.

“We are very grateful for to Boland who allowed us to use their stadium on Saturday for a North vs South training match in Wellington, and we are thankful to the local rugby community who came to support the players.”

From a technical aspect, the objectives of the camp were to focus on the fundamentals and set phase, according to Foote.

“We want to play fast and be physical, and in doing that, tap into our South African rugby DNA, and to develop our strengths as a group.

“There are a lot of excitement amongst the players for this wonderful chance to attend a national rugby training programme and they do understand this is a huge opportunity to, in some way, contribute towards the incredible story of South African rugby.”

The following players were not part of the first camp: Rouwan Mitchell, Ulrich van der Merwe, Tebogo Nkosi, Xabiso Mkiva, Jacobus Fourie, Riley Norton, Arno van der Merwe, Abri van der Westhuysen, Risima Khosa, Jeffwinn Wesso, Ceano Everson, Chris Horak, Vusi Moyo, Matthew Coetzee, Yaqeen Ahmed, Janco Purchase, Gino Cupido, Alzeadon Felix, Cheswill Jooste and Erich Visser.

Johan Ackermann, who will assist the Junior Boks in a coaching consultancy role next year, is expected to join up with the second from next week in Stellenbosch.

SA Rugby U19 Academy squad – second camp in Stellenbosch:

Props: Ranon Fouché (Bulls), Rouwan Mitchell (Bulls), Jean Erasmus (Bulls), Simphiwe Ngobese (Sharks), Christoff Etzebeth (Sharks), Ulrich van der Merwe (Lions), Tebogo Nkosi (Cheetahs), Ali Thiam (Bulls).

Hookers: Jaundre Schoeman (Bulls), HB Odendaal (Lions), Xabiso Mkiva (Western Province), Stefan Venter (Cheetahs).

Locks: Jacobus Fourie (Bulls), Kuhle Mthimkhulu (Sharks), Neil Hansen (Lions), Morne Venter (Lions), Danio Botha (Western Province), Riley Norton (Western Province), Arno van der Merwe (Cheetahs).

Loose forwards: Abri van der Westhuysen (Bulls), Batho Hlekani (Sharks), Yabo Ndzamela ( Sharks), Risima Khosa (Lions), Divan Fuller (Western Province), Xola Nyali (Western Province), Stephanus Linde (Cheetahs), Jeffwinn Wesso (SA Rugby Sevens).

Scrumhalves: Zeke January (Bulls), Juan Loots (Sharks), Ceano Everson (Sharks).

Flyhalves: Chris Horak (Sharks), Vusi Moyo (Lions), Matthew Coetzee (Lions), Yaqeen Ahmed (Western Province).

Centres: Daniel van der Merwe (Bulls), Janco Purchase (Bulls), Albie Bester (Sharks), Tirhani Masondo (Lions), Gino Cupido (Western Province), Dominic Malgas (Western Province)

Outside backs: Scott Nel (Sharks), Jaco Williams (Sharks), Jody Schambreel (Lions), Gilermo Mentoe (Lions), Siya Ndlozi (Western Province), Alzeadon Felix (Cheetahs), Cheswill Jooste (Bulls), Erich Visser (Cheetahs), Chijindu Okonta (Sharks).