Seven players from last year’s successful campaign have been included in the Junior Springboks squad for the 2026 Junior World Championship in Georgia.
The global showpiece takes place in Georgia from 27 June to 18 July.
Captain and lock Riley Norton, props Oliver Reid and Rambo Kubheka, hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele, flyhalf Vusi Moyo, wing Cheswill Jooste and fullback Alzeadon Felix were all part of the side that won last year’s tournament in Italy.
Ten members of the Junior World Championship squad were included in the wider Springbok group for the Barbarians fixture and the South Africa A match against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha next Saturday, while Cheswill Jooste remains with the Vodacom Bulls, who have qualified for the next Friday night’s URC final.
Norton is one of the players included in the wider Springbok group, along with props Reid and Danie Kruger, hookers Mnebelele and Liam van Wyk, flyhalf Moyo, flyhalf/centre Yaqeen Ahmed, utility back Luan Giliomee, centre Markus Muller and fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya. They will join the Junior Boks squad as soon as they are released from senior national duty.
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Muller and Siyaya are joined by eight other players in the squad who are still U19 and eligible to play in next year’s Junior World Championship. They are props Jordan Jooste and Luan van der Berg, lock Jaythen Orange, loose forwards Gert Kemp and Wasi Vyambwera, scrumhalf Jayden Brits, centre Ethan Adams and wing Jordan Steenkamp.
The players will be capped on Saturday, and will continue their final preparations at their Stellenbosch base camp before departing for Georgia on Monday, 22 June.
“It was the most difficult decision for me and the fellow coaches,” said Junior Boks coach Kevin Foote on the final selection.
“Any one of those not selected would have done a great job for us in Georgia. It was the most difficult decision we had to make because of the quality of players and the calibre of young men we’ve had the privilege of working with during the past six months in our programme.
“There were numerous positions where it was very tight, and where several players knocked really hard on the door.
“In the end, you can only take the allowed number of players to Georgia, which meant heartbreak for several of them. We all feel for those young men; they will be hurting, and we are thankful for their fantastic attitude, hard work, and dedication.
“We will play to the best of our ability for our country and especially for them, and we hope to make everyone proud.”
The Junior Boks are grouped in Pool A with Wales, Georgia and Uruguay, and will be based in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi for the pool stage.
They open their campaign against Uruguay at Avchala Stadium on Saturday, 27 June, before taking on hosts Georgia on 2 July and Wales on 7 July.
The ranking playoffs will take place on 12 and 13 July, with the remaining ranking playoffs on 17 July, followed by the third-place encounter and final on 18 July.
Junior Boks’ 2026 Junior World Championship squad
Props: Oliver Reid (Stormers), Rambo Kubheka (Sharks), Jordan Jooste (Stormers), Danie Kruger (Stormers), Luan van der Berg (Bulls).
Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Sharks), Liam van Wyk (Sharks).
Locks: Heinrich Theron (Bulls), Jaythen Orange (Lions), Riley Norton (c, Stormers), JD Hattingh (Lions).
Loose forwards: Kebotile Maake (Bulls), Risima Khosa (Lions), Luke Cannon (Lions), Wasi Vyambwera (Sharks), Vuyo Gwiji (Lions), Gert Kemp (Stormers), Thomas Beling (Lions).
Scrumhalves: Hendré Schoeman (Bulls), Jayden Brits (Stormers).
Flyhalves: Yaqeen Ahmed (Stormers), Vusi Moyo (Sharks).
Centres: Ethan Adams (Lions), Samuel Badenhorst (Stormers), Markus Muller (Stormers).
Outside and utility backs: Luan Giliomee (Sharks), Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (Sharks), Cheswill Jooste (Bulls), Jack Benade (Stormers), Jordan Steenkamp (Stormers), Zekhethelo Siyaya (Sharks), Alzeadon Felix (Lions).
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
The post Junior Boks name squad for title defence appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Seven players from last year’s successful campaign have been included in the Junior Springboks squad for the 2026 Junior World Championship in Georgia.
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