SPRINGBOK’S coach Rassie Erasmus cast his net wide, as he named a 49-man squad featuring 11 uncapped players – five of whom are still in the Junior Bok ranks – for the team’s first in-person alignment camp of the year in Cape Town on Wednesday.
The camp will run from Tuesday 3 to Friday 6 March, as the Bok coaches zoom in on the 2026 season.
The group includes 14 Rugby World Cup winners, with Frans Malherbe – who has been out of action since the 2023 RWC Final due to back and neck injuries – making a notable return to the squad, while five U20 players also feature in the group.
They are 2025 Junior World Championship-winning captain Riley Norton (utility forward), and his SA U20 team-mates from last year, Cheswill Jooste (utility back) and Siphosethu Mnebelele (hooker), while two players from the 2025 SA U18 squad who are currently on tour with the Junior Boks in Georgia, Kai Pratt (prop) and Markus Muller (centre), also feature in the group.
Jooste, Haashim Pead (scrumhalf), and Bathobele Hlekani (utility forward) – who will all attend their first Springbok alignment camp – trained with the Boks for a week in Johannesburg last season.
The other players who secured their first invite to a Springbok alignment camp are Emmanuel Tshituka (utility forward), Jaco Williams (wing), Paul de Villiers (flanker), and Zachary Porthen (prop), who made his Test debut against Japan late last year.
The camp will include a series of boardroom and gymnasium sessions where the national coaches will brief their players on their plans and expected standards for the season as the team prepares to build toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup, while it will also offer some of the younger players valuable insight into the senior national set-up.
The in-person camp will be followed by a virtual alignment camp with 21 overseas-based players.
Erasmus was pleased with the make-up of the squad and said: “This is an exciting group of players who have all made a strong statement for their respective provincial unions, and we are delighted to have some of the finest young talent in the country attending the camp to expose them to our environment and structures.
“Bathobele, Haashim, and Cheswill trained with us for a few days last year, and we saw how valuable that experience was for them, so hopefully, all the young players and those attending their first alignment camp will also gain a greater understanding of how the team operates.”
Looking at the forthcoming season, Erasmus said the team’s planning was at an advanced stage and that they looked forward to working with the players with the international season kicking off on Saturday, 20 June against the Barbarians in Gqeberha.
“The coaches and management staff have been working around the clock to ensure that we are as prepared as possible for what will be a challenging season, and all the operational and logistical aspects are in place for everything to run as smoothly as possible, so we are excited for the season ahead,” said the Bok coach.
“The next step is to start working with the players and getting them into the swing of things, so we are delighted about this opportunity to get everyone aligned.”
The Springboks will host a second alignment camp in May.
The Barbarians fixture will be followed by three local matches in the Nations Championship, against England in Johannesburg (4 July), Scotland in Pretoria (11 July), and Wales in Durban (18 July).
They will then meet Argentina in Buenos Aires (8 August), and the All Blacks in four Tests in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in August and September.
This will be followed by an away Test against the Wallabies in Australia (27 September), before the second leg of the Nations Championship kicks off in Europe, with matches against Italy (7 November), France (13 November), and Ireland (21 November), before the Finals Weekend in London (27 to 29 November).
Players invited to the first Springbok alignment camp:
Forwards: Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche, Kai Pratt, Emmanuel Tshituka, Vincent Tshituka (all Hollywoodbets Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar, Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw, Siphosethu Mnebebele, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Cobus Wiese, Jan-Hendrik Wessels (all Vodacom Bulls), Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Neethling Fouche, Frans Malherbe, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Salmaan Moerat, Riley Norton, Zachary Porthen, Evan Roos (all DHL Stormers), Bathobele Hlekani, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter (all Lions).
Backs: Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Makazole Mapimpi, Edwill van der Merwe, Grant Williams, Jaco Williams (all Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sebastian de Klerk, Cheswill Jooste, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard (all Vodacom Bulls), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Markus Muller, Cobus Reinach, Damian Willemse (all DHL Stormers), Quan Horn, Haashim Pead, Morne van den Berg (all Lions).
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed the team will kick off a novel 2026 season against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on Saturday, 20 June – the second home fixture between the teams in as many seasons – at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, exactly two weeks before their inaugural Nations Championship match against England at Ellis Park.
Tickets for the clash against the Barbarians – starting from R250 per person – will go on sale from 10h00 on Wednesday, 25 February, exclusively on springboks.tmtickets.co.za
The 2026 season will feature two new competitions for Bok coach Rassie Erasmus and his charges as the Nations Championship and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry kick off, making the Barbarians clash a vital occasion for the team to get valuable game time against quality opposition.
The Barbarians coaching quartet will be headed by former All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson and Los Pumas head coach Felipe Contepomi, who will be supported by Racing-92 head coach Patrice Collazo and Argentina assistant coach Kenny Lynn.
The Springboks won the historic match between the teams by 54-7 in Cape Town last season, after last facing the BaaBaas in November 2016, which ended in a 31-31 draw at Wembley Stadium in London.
“It’s always exciting to face the BaaBaas, and we are looking forward to hosting them in South Africa for the second year in a row – this time at the iconic Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where we have traditionally enjoyed fantastic support,” said Erasmus.
“With our opening Nations Championship encounter against England two weeks later, this will be an ideal opportunity to get the players match-ready against a side that always boasts top players from across the world.
“The key for us, however, will be to focus on our structures and what we want to achieve on the field. This is a new season with two new exciting competitions, so the sooner we get into a Test match mindset, the better.”
Contepomi was equally thrilled about the fixture and said: “It was a tremendous honour to play for the Barbarians, and now to be invited to coach the BaaBaas in a match against the back-to-back world champions in their own country is just as special.
“It’s a recognition of the performance of Los Pumas in recent years, and it will be a great challenge to put a team together in a week to face South Africa. I eagerly await that opportunity.”
Robertson added: “The Barbarians brings the rugby world together, so it’s special to be a part of it and to honour the jersey.”
The Barbarians fixture will be followed by three local matches in the Nations Championship, against England in Johannesburg (4 July), Scotland in Pretoria (11 July), and Wales in Durban (18 July).
They will then meet the All Blacks in four Tests in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in August and September.
This will be followed by an away Test against the Wallabies in Australia (27 September).
The second leg of the Nations Championship kicks off in Europe at the end of the year, with matches against Italy (7 November), France (13 November), and Ireland (21 November), before the Finals Weekend in London (27 to 29 November).
For more information on pre-registration for tickets to the Finals Weekend, CLICK HERE.
Springbok fixtures 2026:
International:
Saturday 20 June: Springboks v Barbarians (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha)
Nations Championship:
Saturday 4 July: Springboks v England (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday 11 July: Springboks v Scotland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday 18 July: Springboks v Wales (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry:
Saturday 22 August: Springboks v All Blacks (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday 29 August: Springboks v All Blacks (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday 5 September: Springboks v All Blacks (FNB Stadium, Johannesburg)
Saturday 12 September: Springboks v All Blacks (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA)
Once-off Test:
Sunday 27 September: Wallabies v Springboks (Optus Stadium, Perth)
Nations Championship:
Saturday 7 November: Italy v Springboks (Venue TBC)
Friday 13 November: France v Springboks (Stade de France, Paris)
Saturday 21 November: Ireland v Springboks (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November: Finals Weekend (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London)
