Hold onto your jerseys, rugby fans! Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is stirring the pot early this year, roping in a whopping 49 players, including 11 fresh faces, for an all-hands-on-deck alignment camp in Cape Town. From March 3 to 6, this mix of seasoned World Cup victors and eager newbies will huddle up to plot the 2026 season's course. Among the notables making a comeback is Frans Malherbe, shaking off the dust since the 2023 final with his back and neck woes.
The camp isn’t just for the old guard; the future of Springbok rugby is also coming into play with five U20 stars tagged for the big-league insights. Names like Riley Norton, who captained last year's Junior World Champs, and his cohorts Cheswill Jooste and Siphosethu Mnebelele are on the list. Not to forget, fresh from the U18 scene and currently touring with the Junior Boks in Georgia, prop Kai Pratt and center Markus Muller are getting their first taste of senior-level strategizing.
It’s not just about chalk talks and gym grinds; this camp is a prime chance for the newbies to soak in the high standards and strategic depths of national play. “This is an exciting group of players who have all made a strong statement for their respective provincial unions, and we are delighted to have some of the finest young talent in the country attending the camp to expose them to our environment and structures,” Erasmus shared, clearly pumped about infusing new blood into the Bok veins.
"Bathobele, Haashim and Cheswill trained with us for a few days last year, and we saw how valuable that experience was for them, so hopefully, all the young players and those attending their first alignment camp will also gain a greater understanding of how the team operates."
With the international season kicking off against the Barbarians on June 20 in Gqeberha, Erasmus is all about precision. “The coaches and management staff have been working around the clock to ensure that we are as prepared as possible for what will be a challenging season, and all the operational and logistical aspects are in place for everything to run as smoothly as possible, so we are excited for the season ahead,” he elaborated, signaling a robust pre-season hustle.
The Springboks will reconvene in May for a second alignment camp, ensuring no stone is left unturned in their World Cup buildup. With such a blend of experience and emerging talent, the Boks are not just preparing for the now but are seeding the ground for future glories.
Players invited to the first Springbok alignment camp:
Forwards: Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche, Kai Pratt, Emmanuel Tshituka, Vincent Tshituka (all Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar, Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw, Siphosethu Mnebebele, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Cobus Wiese, Jan-Hendrik Wessels (all Bulls), Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Neethling Fouche, Frans Malherbe, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Salmaan Moerat, Riley Norton, Zachary Porthen, Evan Roos (all Stormers), Bathobele Hlekani, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter (all Lions).
Backs: Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Makazole Mapimpi, Edwill van der Merwe, Grant Williams, Jaco Williams (all Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sebastian de Klerk, Cheswill Jooste, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard (all Bulls), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Markus Muller, Cobus Reinach, Damian Willemse (all Stormers), Quan Horn, Haashim Pead, Morne van den Berg (all Lions).
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Hold onto your jerseys, rugby fans! Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is stirring the pot early this year, roping in a whopping 49 players, including 11 fresh faces, for an all-hands-on-deck alignment camp in Cape Town. From March 3 to 6, this mix of seasoned World Cup victors and eager newbies will huddle up to plot the 2026 season's course. Among the notables making a comeback is Frans Malherbe, shaking off the dust since the 2023 final with his back and neck woes.
The camp isn’t just for the old guard; the future of Springbok rugby is also coming into play with five U20 stars tagged for the big-league insights. Names like Riley Norton, who captained last year's Junior World Champs, and his cohorts Cheswill Jooste and Siphosethu Mnebelele are on the list. Not to forget, fresh from the U18 scene and currently touring with the Junior Boks in Georgia, prop Kai Pratt and center Markus Muller are getting their first taste of senior-level strategizing.
It’s not just about chalk talks and gym grinds; this camp is a prime chance for the newbies to soak in the high standards and strategic depths of national play. “This is an exciting group of players who have all made a strong statement for their respective provincial unions, and we are delighted to have some of the finest young talent in the country attending the camp to expose them to our environment and structures,” Erasmus shared, clearly pumped about infusing new blood into the Bok veins.
"Bathobele, Haashim and Cheswill trained with us for a few days last year, and we saw how valuable that experience was for them, so hopefully, all the young players and those attending their first alignment camp will also gain a greater understanding of how the team operates."
With the international season kicking off against the Barbarians on June 20 in Gqeberha, Erasmus is all about precision. “The coaches and management staff have been working around the clock to ensure that we are as prepared as possible for what will be a challenging season, and all the operational and logistical aspects are in place for everything to run as smoothly as possible, so we are excited for the season ahead,” he elaborated, signaling a robust pre-season hustle.
The Springboks will reconvene in May for a second alignment camp, ensuring no stone is left unturned in their World Cup buildup. With such a blend of experience and emerging talent, the Boks are not just preparing for the now but are seeding the ground for future glories.
Players invited to the first Springbok alignment camp:
Forwards: Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche, Kai Pratt, Emmanuel Tshituka, Vincent Tshituka (all Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar, Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw, Siphosethu Mnebebele, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Cobus Wiese, Jan-Hendrik Wessels (all Bulls), Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Neethling Fouche, Frans Malherbe, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Salmaan Moerat, Riley Norton, Zachary Porthen, Evan Roos (all Stormers), Bathobele Hlekani, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter (all Lions).
Backs: Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Makazole Mapimpi, Edwill van der Merwe, Grant Williams, Jaco Williams (all Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sebastian de Klerk, Cheswill Jooste, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard (all Bulls), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Markus Muller, Cobus Reinach, Damian Willemse (all Stormers), Quan Horn, Haashim Pead, Morne van den Berg (all Lions).