{"id":88840,"date":"2026-01-20T15:09:48","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T13:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=88840"},"modified":"2026-01-20T15:09:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T13:09:48","slug":"fresh-faces-for-junior-bok-training-camp-in-stellenbosch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=88840","title":{"rendered":"Fresh faces for Junior Bok training camp in Stellenbosch"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Markus Muller of South Africa scores a try during the U18 International Series match between South Africa and Ireland at Paarl Gimnasium on August 16, 2024, in Paarl, South Africa. Photo: Ashley Vlotman\/Gallo Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Junior Springbok<\/strong> head coach Kevin Foote<\/strong> has underlined the importance of mental freshness and a strong technical foundation as he prepares to welcome a 42-man training squad to Stellenbosch on Wednesday, with a number of last year’s SA u18<\/strong> players invited to the camp.<\/p>\n

The camp marks a major step in the SA u20<\/strong>s’ campaign for 2026, with the squad featuring a strategic mix of battle-hardened regulars and exciting talent graduating from the successful SA u18s, while 13 players who toured France and Ireland towards the end of last year with the SA u19s, will return to Stellenbosch.<\/p>\n

Foote said a significant focus of the selection process was managing the workload of the younger contingent. The Junior Bok coach explained that several players were not selected for the European tour last November to allow them to recover from a taxing year that included Grade 12 exams, their school programmes, the FNB u18 Craven Week<\/strong> and the U18 International Series<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“Bringing them in fresh is a big positive for us. They are training hard with the unions, and we’re expecting them to do really well,” said Foote.<\/p>\n

“I believe it isn’t a lack of talent for us; it’s about making sure we get the foundation of the culture and the environment right for these young men to excel.”<\/p>\n

The new players invited to the camp include Kai Pratt<\/strong> and JG Badenhorst<\/strong> (props), AJ Meyer<\/strong> (lock), Mumbere “Wasi” Vyambwera<\/strong> and Gert Kemp<\/strong> (loose forwards), Yaqeen Ahmed<\/strong> (flyhalf), Markus Muller<\/strong> and Ethan Adams<\/strong> (centres), as well as the speedy Zekhethelo Siyaya<\/strong> (fullback).<\/p>\n

While the squad has been bolstered by last year’s u18 stars, some familiar players return, including last year’s Junior Bok captain Riley Norton <\/strong>and his fellow 2025 Junior World Championship winners<\/strong> <\/a>Oliver Reid<\/strong>, Rambo Kubheka<\/strong>, Siphosethu Mnebelele<\/strong>, and Alzeadon Felix<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Flyhalf Vusi Moyo<\/strong>, another member of last year’s successful Junior Bok side, is not part of the squad because he is busy with rehabilitation following a minor hip operation to ensure he is ready for the forthcoming international season.<\/p>\n

Wing Cheswill Jooste<\/strong> is another 2025 Junior Bok stalwart who remains firmly in the selection mix but he will instead continue his duties with the Vodacom Bulls<\/strong> in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship<\/strong>, while utility back Luan Giliomee<\/strong> is currently part of the Springbok Sevens<\/strong> programme.<\/p>\n

Foote explained the forthcoming camp will serve as a high-intensity training and technical preparation block, with a focus on sharpening the traditional Junior Bok DNA elements \u2013 set-piece dominance, kicking game, solid defence and attacking flair, in addition to getting to grips with their game model.<\/p>\n

“We go pretty hard at our DNA, and we want to make sure we put a good set-piece platform together,” said Foote. “The focus is also on game management \u2013 understanding which parts of the field we want to play in and maintaining a high tempo.”<\/p>\n

The squad will undertake a short tour of three matches to Georgia, leaving on 15 February and returning on 28 February. In preparation for the tour, the camp schedule includes training matches against the FNB Varsity Cup<\/strong> sides UCT<\/strong> and Maties<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“These sessions are vital preparation for a challenging tour to Georgia, where the squad will face extreme conditions, including training and playing in temperatures below freezing,” said Foote.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Georgian tour will test us with regards to the conditions and the culture, but it’s a great opportunity to focus on what we can control. We want to focus on our team combinations, understanding our culture, and creating those moments together that you can reflect on when hard times come.”<\/p>\n

Junior Bok squad for Stellenbosch training camp<\/strong><\/p>\n

Forwards (25)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Props:<\/strong> Oliver Reid (DHL Western Province), Phiwayinkosi \u201cRambo\u201d Kubheka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kai Pratt (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sibabalwe Booi (Toyota Cheetahs), Ruan Smuts (Toyota Cheetahs), JG Badenhorst (Toyota Cheetahs), Danie Kruger (DHL Western Province).<\/p>\n

Hookers:<\/strong> Siphosethu Mnebelele (Vodacom Bulls), Liam van Wyk (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Mahle Sithole (Fidelity ADT Lions).<\/p>\n

Locks:<\/strong> Heinrich Theron (Vodacom Bulls), JP Lombaard (Vodacom Bulls), James Schnetler (Fidelity ADT Lions), Riley Norton (DHL Western Province,) JD Hattingh (Fidelity ADT Lions), AJ Meyer (DHL Western Province).<\/p>\n

Loose forwards:<\/strong> Kebotile Maake (Vodacom Bulls), Alutha Wesi (DHL Western Province), Luke Canon (Fidelity ADT Lions), Franko Rossouw (Vodacom Bulls), Risima Khosa (Fidelity ADT Lions), Mumbere \u201cWasi\u201d Vyambwera (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vuyo Gwiji (Fidelity ADT Lions), Gert Kemp (DHL Western Province), Reuben Kruger (DHL Western Province).<\/p>\n

Backs (16)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scrumhalves:<\/strong> Matthew Fick (Vodacom Bulls), Hendr\u00e9 Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls), Denilo Jordaan (Durban Varsity College).<\/p>\n

Flyhalf:<\/strong> Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL Western Province), Alzeadon Felix (Fidelity ADT Lions).<\/p>\n

Centres:<\/strong> Pieter van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls), Christian Vorster (Vodacom Bulls), Ethan Adams (Fidelity ADT Lions), Samuel Badenhorst (DHL Western Province), Markus Muller (DHL Western Province).<\/p>\n

Outside backs: <\/strong>Dylan Miller (DHL Western Province), Jordan Steenkamp (DHL Western Province), Lindsey Jansen (Fidelity ADT Lions), Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Zekhethelo Siyaya (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Reinhardt Viljoen (Fidelity ADT Lions), Aidan Bester (Saldanha RFC).<\/p>\n

Issued by SA Rugby Communications<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote has underlined the importance of mental freshness and a strong technical foundation as he prepares to welcome a 42-man training squad to Stellenbosch on Wednesday, with a number of last year’s SA u18 players invited to the camp. The camp marks a major step in the SA u20s’ campaign […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":55522,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88840","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88840","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=88840"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88840\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/55522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=88840"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=88840"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=88840"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}