By Ayanda Nyuswa
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named his first official squad for the 2025 international season, with a total of 54 players named for the opening stages of the international season. The squad includes 31 Rugby World Cup players and nine uncapped players divided into 30 forwards and 24 backs. The nine uncapped players include Marnus van der Merwe, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Neethling Fouche, Cobus Wiese, Renzo du Plessis, Juarno Augustus, Ethan Hooker, Vincent Tshituka, and Ntokozo Makhaza.
The Springboks will open the international season with a clash against the Barbarians at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on 28 June. This will be the first meeting on South African soil between the two iconic sides. This encounter will be followed by back-to-back tests against Italy in Pretoria and Gqeberha on 5 and 12 July, and then a match against Georgia in Nelspruit on 19 July, before they start the Rugby Championship.
This squad will have a two week training block ahead of the opening test in Cape Town.
