Head coach Bafana Nhleko has included five members of last year’s Junior Springbok squad in the 30-player group for the U20 Championship in Cape Town.
Captain Zachary Porthen is one of five players who will feature in the tournament for a second time.
Apart from Porthen – who will pack down at prop – the other players who played in the tournament on home soil last year are lock JF van Heerden, scrumhalf Asad Moos, centre Jurenzo Julius and winger Litelihle Bester.
Nhleko acknowledged the difficulty in finalizing the 30-man squad due to the high level of commitment and desire shown by the entire training group.
“We had to make some tough decisions to choose what we as coaches believe would be the best selection for the competition,” Nhleko explained.
“I commend all the guys who have been part of the journey thus far and the sacrifices made, but from hereon, the focus will be towards building cohesion within the squad.
“We are excited for the challenge that lies ahead, the players are keen to create their own story and we can only take confidence from the work that the group has put in.”
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The training squad reconvened this week to begin their preparations since their return from Brisbane last month, where they participated in the inaugural U20 Rugby Championship arranged by SANZAAR.
Nhleko said: “That tournament gave us an opportunity to play in three very tough, competitive matches, presented us with key learnings and areas to work on, but we also grew as a group. We are keen to keep driving good behaviours and build on the positive aspects of our performances.”
The Junior Boks are grouped in Pool C with Fiji, Argentina, and England. France will defend the title they won in Cape Town last year, and the SA U20s will look to improve on their bronze medal from 2023.
The tournament kicks off on 29 June in Cape Town at Cape Town Stadium and Athlone Stadium, with subsequent pool match days scheduled for 4 and 9 July. The playoffs, including the semi-finals for the top four sides, will be staged on 14 July, with the final and ranking matches on 19 July.
The Junior Boks will start their campaign on Saturday, 29 June against Fiji in the DHL Stadium, followed by pool games against Argentina on 4 July (Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch) and England on 9 July (Athlone Stadium).
Full Junior Springbok squad:
Props: Casper Badenhorst (Bulls), Liyema Ntshanga, (Cheetahs), Reno Hirst (Golden Lions), Zachary Porthen (captain, WP), Ruan Swart (Bulls).
Hookers: Ethan Bester (Sharks), Luca Bakkes (WP), Juan Smal (Bulls).
Locks: Adam de Waal (WP), JF van Heerden (Bulls), Thomas Dyer (Sharks).
Loose forwards: Batho Hlekani (Sharks), Divan Fuller (WP), Keanu Coetsee (Bulls), Sibabalwe Mahashe (Golden Lions), Thabang Mphafi (Golden Lions), Tiaan Jacobs (Biarritz).
Scrumhalves: Asad Moos (WP), Ezekiel Ngobeni (WP).
Flyhalves: Liam Koen (Bulls), Tylor Sefoor (Cheetahs).
Centres: Bruce Sherwood (WP), Joshua Boulle (WP), Jurenzo Julius (Sharks), Philip-Albert van Niekerk (Bulls).
Outside backs: JC Mars (WP), Joel Leotlela (WP & SA Sevens), Litelihle Bester (Sharks), Likhona Finca (Golden Lions), Michail Damon (Bulls).
Photo: Albert Perez/Getty Images