By Kevin Rademeyer.
The road to the 2027 Rugby World Cup may still be more than a year away, but Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has already begun laying the foundations.
Erasmus on Saturday unveiled an expanded 51-player squad for the Springboks’ first training camp of the season, with no fewer than 21 uncapped players included ahead of a busy international campaign that begins later this month.
The squad will assemble in Johannesburg before South Africa’s season-opening double-header in Gqeberha on June 20, where the Springboks face the Barbarians while a South Africa A side takes on Zimbabwe.
While many established stars remain in the group, the biggest talking point is Erasmus’ willingness to broaden the player pool. A number of Junior Springbok prospects have earned opportunities alongside World Cup winners such as Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Cheslin Kolbe.
Among the exciting young names included are Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton, backs Yaqeen Ahmed, Vusi Moyo, Markus Muller and Zekhethelo Siyaya, as well as forwards Danie Kruger, Oliver Reid and Liam van Wyk.
Several standout performers from the domestic game have also been rewarded, including Jurenzo Julius, Emmanuel Tshituka, Haashim Pead, Imad Khan and Nico Steyn.
The selection was influenced in part by the absence of players from the Vodacom Bulls, who were unavailable after securing their place in the United Rugby Championship final against Leinster Rugby.
For Erasmus, however, the expanded squad is about more than short-term availability. It is part of a long-term strategy to build depth and ensure the next generation is ready when called upon.
“We named a large group of players as we will be selecting a Springbok and SA ‘A’ team for the season-opening double-header in Gqeberha, and this will be beneficial in the long term as we build the squad, looking forward to next year’s Rugby World Cup and beyond,” Erasmus said.
“There is also an exciting mix of experienced campaigners and young players in this squad, and this formula has worked well for us in the past to ensure a clear pathway to build depth within the group.”
The Springbok coaching staff have spent recent months conducting alignment camps and virtual sessions, ensuring players are familiar with systems before stepping onto the training field.
“The coaches have been working around the clock to put the systems in place in the last few months,” Erasmus said. “It’s now a matter of implementing what they learned in the boardroom onto the field.”
South Africa faces a demanding schedule in 2026, with matches against the Barbarians, Zimbabwe A, and a July international series against England, Scotland and Wales before new international competitions later in the year.
“We are under no illusions about the challenge ahead this season,” Erasmus added. “It will be important for the group to build cohesion as quickly as possible and make the most of our field sessions and team meetings to be as well prepared as possible when we take the field.”
For now, the focus shifts to Johannesburg, where a blend of proven champions and ambitious newcomers will begin the next chapter of South African rugby’s evolution. The message from Erasmus is clear: the Springboks are building not only for today, but for the future.
Springbok squad (in alphabetical order):
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Paul de Villiers (DHL Stormers), Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers), Bathobele Hlekani (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Hanro Jacobs (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), JJ Kotze (DHL Stormers), Danie Kruger (DHL Stormers), Sibabalwa Mahashe (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Ntuthuko Mchunu (DHL Stormers), Siphosethu Mnebelele (Vodacom Bulls), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Riley Norton (DHL Stormers), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Oliver Reid (DHL Stormers), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Emmanuel Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Liam van Wyk (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Backs: Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL Stormers) Lukhanyo Am (DynaBoars), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Luan Giliomee (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Jurenzo Julius (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Imad Khan (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Markus Muller (DHL Stormers), Haashim Pead (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Zekhethelo Siyaya (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Nico Steyn (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jaco Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).