Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named a 37-man squad for South Africa’s first two Tests in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship against Australia. The squad includes 24 Rugby World Cup winners and five new Test caps from the recent Incoming Series.
Joining the group are three Junior Springbok stars – Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead – who will train with the senior team during a two-week camp in Johannesburg, as part of their introduction to the Bok culture.
Newly capped players include Ethan Hooker, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe, and Cobus Wiese.
Thomas du Toit is resting under a Gallagher Premiership agreement, while Jasper Wiese is suspended. Meanwhile, key players like Lukhanyo Am, Faf de Klerk, and Makazole Mapimpi are on standby and gaining game time in the Currie Cup.
Erasmus highlighted the balance between youth and experience, and the importance of squad depth in a tough competition featuring top-seven ranked teams – Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina.
The Boks play the Wallabies on 16 August in Johannesburg and again on 23 August in Cape Town, before heading to New Zealand and wrapping up their campaign against Argentina in Durban and London.
Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship Tests against Australia:
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls).
Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
