As the countdown begins for the Springboks’ first game of the 2025 international season, coach Rassie Erasmus has wasted no time putting together a robust and talent-filled squad.

And it’s not just familiar faces—he’s also brought in some fresh blood ready to make their mark in green and gold.

The Springboks will open their season against the Barbarians on 28 June in Cape Town, followed by their Incoming Series against Italy and Georgia.

But before that, it’s all eyes on training—and Erasmus is clearly playing the long game.

Uncapped Talent Gets a Shot to Shine

Out of the 54-player squad, nine players are uncapped, meaning they’ve yet to earn a Springbok jersey in an official match.

But don’t mistake them for rookies—many of them have already tasted high-level rugby.

These rising stars include Marnus van der Merwe, Neethling Fouche, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Cobus Wiese, Renzo du Plessis, Vincent Tshituka, Juarno Augustus, Ethan Hooker, and Ntokozo Makhaza.

While Fouche and Hooker were part of the training squad last year, Tshituka and Augustus already got a glimpse of senior-level rugby back in the 2020 Springbok Showdown.

Now, they’ll get a chance to prove they belong among South Africa’s elite.

A Blended Mix of Youth and Experience

This is no rookie camp, though.

The squad includes 31 players from the Rugby World Cup squad, bringing invaluable experience to the setup.

Erasmus has called up 30 forwards and 24 backs, forming a balanced group packed with muscle, speed, and skill.

And although several top South African players are still tied up with their clubs in the URC playoffs and Gallagher Premiership semi-finals, the plan is to stagger their arrival so no one misses out.

Those who are available—including players from Japan-based clubs—will begin training in Johannesburg from 8 June.

Injuries Rule Out Five Big Names

Unfortunately, not everyone is available.

Five notable players have been sidelined due to injuries: Frans Malherbe, Elrigh Louw, Ben-Jason Dixon, Deon Fourie, and Trevor Nyakane.

Their absence opens the door for younger players to step up, and Erasmus sees that as a blessing in disguise.

“It’s a great opportunity for the uncapped guys to learn from the best and understand what’s expected at the highest level,” he said.

Building for the Future, One Camp at a Time

Rassie Erasmus isn’t just thinking about the next game—he’s looking ahead to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Last year alone, the Boks used 50 players in their rotation.

This year’s big camp is part of a long-term plan to develop depth and prepare the next generation of champions.

Erasmus emphasized how vital these sessions are for younger players to get up to speed: “Training alongside experienced World Cup winners will fast-track their development and sharpen their game.”

What’s the Schedule Looking Like?

The squad will train Monday to Friday, then head home for the weekend before returning to camp on 15 June.

Their first match is a blockbuster: a historic clash with the Barbarians in Cape Town on 28 June for the Qatar Airways Cup.

That will be followed by two back-to-back Tests against Italy in Pretoria (5 July) and Gqeberha (12 July), with a final showdown against Georgia in Nelspruit on 19 July.

Full Springbok Training Squad at a Glance

Here’s the complete list of players, grouped by forwards and backs, and arranged in alphabetical order:

Forwards

Juarno Augustus, Lood de Jager, Renzo du Plessis, Jean-Luc du Preez, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Neethling Fouche, Cameron Hanekom, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Salmaan Moerat, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Tshituka, Marco van Staden, Marnus van der Merwe, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese, Jasper Wiese

Backs

Lukhanyo Am, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Quan Horn, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Makazole Mapimpi, Ntokozo Makhaza, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe, Damian Willemse, Grant Williams

Up Next: We’ll be keeping a close eye on how the new faces perform in camp and who makes the final matchday squads.

Stay tuned for updates on the build-up to that exciting June 28 clash with the Barbarians in Cape Town!