SA Rugby magazine
X
  • Home
  • Springboks
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals

SA Rugby magazine SA Rugby magazine – Latest South African rugby news

South African rugby news, interviews, videos and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, Cheetahs and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
SA Rugby magazine
  • Home
  • Springboks
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
You are here: Home ∼ Buthelezi to lead Junior Bok assault

Buthelezi to lead Junior Bok assault

Phendulani Buthelezi Phendulani Buthelezi
Standard published on May 7, 2019

Phendulani Buthelezi will captain the 28-man Junior Springbok side at the World Rugby U20 Championships in Argentina.

Buthelezi will lead the team, while centre Rikus Pretorius and No 8 Francke Horn will serve as vice-captains.

The 28-man squad – consisting of 16 forwards and 12 backs – also includes Springbok Sevens player Angelo Davids, who played in in the Hong Kong and Singapore World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments, and Buthelezi’s  Sharks’ Vodacom Super Rugby teammates Fezokuhle Mbatha (hooker) and JJ van der Mescht (lock).

All of the players in the squad, with the exception of Davids, Dian Bleuler (prop), Vaughen Isaacs (fullback), David Coetzer (flyhalf), David Kriel (utility back), Elrigh Louw (lock) and Mnombo Zwelendaba (centre) travelled with the team to the UK last month for the warm-up matches against England and Wales.

Coetzer, Kriel, Louw and Zwelendaba all ran out for the side in the U20 International Series in April against Georgia, Argentina and the Namibia XV.

‘We selected a squad that show a good mix of players who have featured at a few different levels of the game, both at junior and senior level, as well as a number of talented young players,’ said coach Chean Roux.

‘We had to make a few tough calls as always, but we had to select the players we thought to have what it takes to compete against the best U20 players in the world.’

Roux was confident about his core leadership group, and said: ‘Phepsi and Rikus were both members of our squad that played in France last year, so they know exactly what to expect on the field, as well as off the field.

‘The tournament involves a fair bit of time away from home, and it is demanding on the players both physically and mentally, so it will be good to have leaders who can prepare their teammates for this in advance.

‘Francke also led the team with distinction in the role of both captain and vice-captain during our warm-up matches, and we are equally confident in his abilities as a leader.’

Roux’s team will wrap up their preparations for the international showpiece at their base in Stellenbosch in the next three weeks, with the team departing for Argentina on Wednesday 29 May.

The Junior Springboks will be based in Rosario for the duration of the World Rugby U20 Championship, where they will meet Scotland in their opening match on Tuesday 4 June, before taking on Georgia (Saturday 8 June) and New Zealand (Wednesday 12 June) in their remaining pool matches.

The semi-finals will be contested on Monday 17 June, and the final on Saturday 22 June.

Junior Springbok squad for the World Rugby U20 Championship:

Thaakir Abrahams (Cell C Sharks; utility back)

Dian Bleuler (DHL Western Province; prop)

Phendulani Buthelezi (captain – Cell C Sharks; loose forward)

David Coetzer (DHL Western Province; flyhalf)

Angelo Davids (SA Rugby contracted; wing)

Caleb Dingaan (Cell C Sharks; wing)

Kudzwai Dube (Vodacom Blue Bulls; prop)

Celimpilo Gumede (Cell C Sharks; loose forward)

Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks; scrumhalf)

Francke Horn (vice-captain – DHL Western Province; No 8)

Vaughen Isaacs (Vodacom Blue Bulls; fullback)

Hanro Jacobs (Cell C Sharks; prop)

David Kriel (DHL Western Province; utility back)

Jaco Labuschagne (Vodacom Blue Bulls; loose forward)

Elrigh Louw (Toyota Free State; lock)

Fezokuhle Mbatha (Cell C Sharks; hooker)

Thabiso Mdletshe (Cell C Sharks; prop)

JJ van der Mescht (Cell C Sharks; lock)

James Mollentze (Toyota Free State; utility back)

Sanele Nohamba (Cell C Sharks; scrumhalf)

Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Xerox Golden Lions; prop)

Marnus Potgieter (Vodacom Blue Bulls; utility back)

Rikus Pretorius (vice-captain – DHL Western Province; centre)

Dylan Richardson (Cell C Sharks; utility forward)

Sibusiso Sangweni (Xerox Golden Lions; loose forward)

Emile van Heerden (Cell C Sharks; lock)

Dameon Venter (Xerox Golden Lions; hooker)

Mnombo Zwelendaba (DHL Western Province; centre)

Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images

Posted in Junior Springboks Tagged Junior Springboks

Post by SA Rugby magazine

← Previous Next →

Police rucks with boots, not TMO

The death of legendary All Blacks winger Stu Wilson has sparked reflection...

World Rugby deserves a rebel league

Rebel rugby is coming, and for players it's the deal Test rugby...

Club World Cup big carrot for SA teams

The URC could take a backseat as South African teams chase a...

Razor’s edgy All Blacks must get real

The All Blacks, once comfortable in their own skin, now seem to...

Dupont the greatest? Hold your GOATs!

Antoine Dupont will finish his career as one of the game's most...

Ode to World Cup final

The ball was in play for 38 minutes in the 2023 Rugby...

Please Boks, never change

The world champion Springboks have to evolve their personnel, but not their...

Mr. Rugby on the Modern Game

Thanks to the wonders of artificial intelligence, we can now go beyond...

Rassie ref hom in die rooi

Rassie Erasmus is hardly the embarrassment that some are making him out...

Boks need to make mentality adjustment

The Springboks need to lose their underdog mentality, writes SIMNIKIWE XABANISA in...

Kolbe’s worth every penny

Cheslin Kolbe’s big-money move to Toulon should be welcomed as a massive...

Top six: Best and worst foreign imports

SARugbymag.co.za identifies six of the best and worst foreign players to play...

VIEW MORE
  • Leinster lash Bulls to win URC title
  • LIVE: Bath vs Leicester
  • LIVE: Leinster vs Bulls
  • Bulls bulldoze Sharks for final spot
    Stormers celebrate winning the Vodacom United Rugby Championship during the United Rugby Championship 2021/22 Grand Final between Stormers and Bulls held at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa on 18 June 2022 ©Shaun Roy/BackpagePix
  • On this day: Stormers crowned URC champs

  • Contact us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Competitions
  • Videos
  • Player Features
  • Joburg Etc
  • African Insider News
  • Rugby Championship
  • Super Rugby
  • Currie Cup
  • Varsity Cup
  • Gold Cup
  • Schools
  • Schools
  • SA Cup
  • Six Nations
  • Champions Cup
  • World Cup
  • Challenge Cup
Contact Us on WhatsApp

Connect with us on WhatsApp

CAPE TOWN OFFICE: 36 Old Mill Road, Ndabeni, Maitland, 7405, Western Cape > Telephone: (021) 530 3300 > Fax: (021) 530 3333
©Copyright 2025 SA Rugby magazine

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Springboks
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals

×