Rassie names group for second Bok alignment camp of 2026: 10 uncapped players in mix
· Citizen
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named his second alignment group ahead of the 2026 international season, with 40 players invited to a camp in Cape Town next week.
The Boks kick off their season with a match against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on 20 June before turning their attention to the newly formed Nations Championship and matches against England, Scotland and Wales in South Africa in July.
Visit afrikasportnews.co.za for more information.
In August the world champions welcome the All Blacks to the country for a full tour, including three Tests, with a fourth Test set for Baltimore in the USA.
Two players will attend their first camp with the Boks, namely flanker Siba Mahashe of the Lions and Zekhethelo Siyaya, fullback of the Sharks.
Embrose Papier, Francke Horn, Andre-Hugo Venter and Henco van Wyk, who have attended camps in the past, have also cracked invites to next week’s gathering.
This will be the second in-person camp of the pre-season. A second virtual alignment camp, with the overseas-based players, will be hosted following this camp next week.
Uncapped players
The squad includes 25 forwards and 15 backs and the camp will run from Tuesday next week to Thursday. There is no URC rugby next week.
The 10 uncapped players in the group are: Horn, Mahashe, Siyaya, Van Wyk, Paul de Villiers, Bathobele Hlekani, Riley Norton, Haashim Pead, Emmanuel Tshituka, and Jaco Williams.
No players who play their rugby in Japan and Europe were considered for this camp.
“This is an exciting group of players, and it’s been pleasing to see them make their presence felt in the United Rugby Championship and during their teams’ Champions Cup and Challenge Cup campaigns this season,” said Erasmus.
“This camp will be a good opportunity to expose those invited to our setup and the standards expected of the national coaches.
“We’re looking forward to involving Siba, Zekhethelo, Andre, Embrose, Francke, and Henco at this camp as we continue to build our squad depth.”
Plyers who’re unfit due to long-term injuries were also not considered for the camp.
Players invited to camp:
Forwards: Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Neethling Fouche, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Salmaan Moerat, Riley Norton, Zachary Porthen, Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter (all Stormers); Bathobele Hlekani, Francke Horn, Sibabalwe Mahashe, Asenathi Ntlabakanye (all Lions); Johan Grobbelaar, Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Bulls); Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche, Emmanuel Tshituka (all Sharks).
Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Embrose Papier, Handre Pollard (all Bulls); Andre Esterhuizen, Zekhethelo Siyaya, Edwill van der Merwe, Grant Williams, Jaco Williams (all Sharks); Quan Horn, Haashim Pead, Henco van Wyk, Morne van den Berg (all Lions); Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse (both Stormers).