By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Edinburgh prop Boan Venter has received his first-ever Springbok call-up, as head coach Rassie Erasmus trimmed his squad following the completion of the team’s first week of training in Johannesburg.
Venter, who is 28 years old, has been plying his trade at the Scottish capital club since 2021 after starting his professional career at the Free State Cheetahs in 2019.
Fellow props Gerhard Steenekamp and Ntuthuko Mchunu are amongst six players who were released from Erasmus initial squad of 55 players due to injury.
That has resulted in Venter being the only new addition to the Boks squad.
Lukhanyo Am (centre), Pieter-Steph du Toit (utility forward), Cameron Hanekom and Juarno Augustus (both number eights) are the other injured players released from the squad.
Meanwhile, Jaden Hendrikse (scrum-half), Jordan Hendrikse (fly-half), Quan Horn (full-back), Renzo du Plessis (back-row), and Ntokozo Makhaza (utility back) – have also returned to their unions.
Most of the squad will gather in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon to continue their preparations for the season, while the Bulls players, who finished as runners-up to Leinster in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship Grand Final, will join their Boks team-mates on Monday evening while the Irish province’s lock RG Snyman set to arrive on Tuesday afternoon.
The Premiership final players – Handre Pollard of Leicester Tigers and Thomas du Toit of Bath – will report for duty this Monday and next Monday (initially for three days) respectively, while Venter will join the Boks on Sunday, June 29.
“Our first week of training went well, and it offered us a chance to assess our depth and measure the level at which the players are currently, with an eye on the international season,” said Erasmus.
“We also took stock of the injuries and determined in which positions we needed cover, as well as those in which we have sufficient cover.”
Erasmus said Venter’s call-up is a deserved one as he has been in fine form for Edinburgh.
“Boan has been consistent for Edinburgh in the Vodacom URC and the EPCR Challenge Cup, and he is familiar with the South African structures after playing for the Toyota Cheetahs and coming through our junior ranks, so we are looking forward to seeing him in action on the field.”
The Boks will meet the Barbarians in their first encounter on South African soil in Cape Town on Saturday, June 28 where they will play for the Qatar Airways Cup.
Full Springbok squad:
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Vincent Tshituka (all Sharks), Neethling Fouche, Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos (all Stormers), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Wilco Louw, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese, Ruan Nortje (all Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Backs: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel (both Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams, Ethan Hooker (all Sharks), Manie Libbok, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse (all Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie (all Bulls), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg, Edwilll van der Merwe (both Lions).