The extended Junior Bok squad will assemble from Monday, 24 March to continue their preparations for the forthcoming international season and ultimately the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy in June and July.

The training squad have been bolstered by the return of several players who were previously unavailable due to injuries or other commitments and Junior Bok coach Kevin Foote expressed his excitement about the new additions.

“We have some nice additions in the pack and amongst the backs,” said Foote.

“It's great to have several forwards returning, such as JJ Theron, Jaco Grobbelaar and Wandile Mlaba, while we have also included Herman Lubbe and Zuko Phoswa, who were playing in the FNB Varsity Cup.

“Amongst the backs, we have Kyle Smith back from injury and he has been really involved throughout his rehabilitation. Albie Bester joins the group of centres, and Gino Cupido will join us after returning from the Far East with the Springbok Sevens squad. We also have some exciting backs joining us for this training block.”

JJ Theron in action for the SA U18s two years ago.

Reflecting on their recent tour, Foote said: “We are grateful and very pleased with the effort of the group in Georgia. What we have is a squad that is very connected and caring for each other, which is exciting for us going forward.”

Looking ahead to the next few weeks of training, Foote explained their big focus is preparing for the World Rugby U20 Championship while they await confirmation of SANZAAR’s U20 Rugby Championship.

“We will focus a lot on the details of our set piece and our kicking game, and how we want to play according to our South African rugby DNA,” said Foote while also emphasizing the importance of conditioning during the next training block.

“We aim to get a fitter, stronger, and even tighter with each other. The emphasis during conditioning will be on the speed of the ball, how we want to play, and what areas we want to play in. We will achieve this through our training environment, our gym, and conditioning sessions.

“We will push the intensity up during the camp to ensure we are fully prepared for the challenges ahead.”

Wandile Mlaba and Herman Lubbe.

Outside backs JC Mars and Jaco Williams are both injured, but Mars will join the squad for meetings as he is based in Cape Town.

Junior Bok training squad in Stellenbosch:

Props: Ranon Fouché (Vodacom Bulls), Jean Erasmus (Vodacom Bulls), Simphiwe Ngobese (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Tebogo Nkosi (Toyota Cheetahs), Herman Lubbe (DHL Western Province), Oliver Reid (DHL Western Province).

Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Vodacom Bulls), Jaundre Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls), HB Odendaal (Fidelity ADT Lions).

Locks: Kuhle Mthimkhulu (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Neil Hansen (Fidelity ADT Lions), Morne Venter (Fidelity ADT Lions), Riley Norton (DHL Western Province), Jaco Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Zuko Phoswa (DHL Western Province).

Loose forwards: Batho Hlekani (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Yabo Ndzamela (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Divan Fuller (DHL Western Province), Xola Nyali (DHL Western Province), Stephanus Linde (Toyota Cheetahs), JJ Theron (Vodacom Bulls), Matt Romao (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wandile Mlaba (DHL Western Province), Thando Biyela (Fidelity ADT Lions), Marco Ferreira (Vodacom Bulls).

Scrumhalves: Ceano Everson (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Brooklyn Newman (Vodacom Bulls), Haashim Pead (Fidelity ADT Lions).

Flyhalves: Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL Western Province), Kyle Smith (DHL Western Province).

Centres: Albie Bester (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gino Cupido (DHL Western Province), Demitre Erasmus (Vodacom Bulls).

Outside backs: Scott Nel (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gilermo Mentoe (Fidelity ADT Lions), Siya Ndlozi (DHL Western Province), Cheswill Jooste (Vodacom Bulls), Chijindu Okonta (Hollywoodbets Sharks), JT Kapank (Vodacom Bulls).

Utility back: Dominic Malgas (DHL Western Province).