Six players who played for the Junior Springboks at this year’s Junior World Championship in Georgia have been included in a squad of 61 players who will assemble in Stellenbosch from 23 to 27 November for a week-long SA Under-20 Academy camp in Stellenbosch as the juniors take their first steps towards the 2027 season.
The camp will be staged at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS) and forms the starting point of the Junior Boks’ preparations for next year, introducing a new group of players to the standards, expectations, and environment of the SA U20 programme.
The focus throughout the week will be on team culture, work ethic, and the team-first values that have become synonymous with the Junior Bok set-up.
The six members of the 2026 JWC-winning squad are props Jordan Jooste and Luan van den Berg, loose forwards Wasi Vyambwera and Gert Kemp, scrumhalf Jayden Brits, and wing Jordan Steenkamp.
Most of the players selected for the U20 Academy camp featured in the recently completed and highly competitive SA Rugby U20 Cup competition, which again highlighted the depth of young talent emerging through the South African rugby system.
SA U20 head coach Kevin Foote – who coached the Junior Boks to the SANZAAR U20 Championship earlier this year, and back-to-back JWC titles – described the forthcoming camp as an important pillar in the preparation phase of grooming the next generation of Junior Boks.
“We have been very encouraged by what we’ve seen from these players during the SA Rugby U20 Cup season, and we are looking forward to working with them when they gather in Stellenbosch for the alignment camp,” said Foote.
“The important thing for us is that these players have performed well at age-group level and have put themselves in a position to be identified for the next step in the Junior Springbok pathway. This camp gives us an opportunity to introduce them to the environment and begin building relationships ahead of next year’s programme.”
Foote emphasised the reason for the weeklong assembly in Stellenbosch: “It is important to note that this is not a physical training camp. The focus will be on introducing the players to our game model, how we want to play, and the standards and expectations that come with representing the Junior Springboks.
“We will spend time explaining our units with the players – our attacking and defensive frameworks – while also working closely with our leadership group and placing a strong emphasis on team culture. Those elements are just as important as what happens on the field.
“They are a highly motivated bunch of young men who have shown real potential throughout the season, and there is genuine enthusiasm among the coaching staff to start working with them. The alignment camp will give the players a taste of what lies ahead and help prepare them for when we officially begin our Junior Springbok training programme in the new year.
“It is an important first step in our journey towards the 2027 season, and we are looking forward to seeing how the players embrace the opportunity.”
Foote praised the cooperation between SA Rugby, the provincial unions, franchise teams and schools in ensuring the player pathway and Junior Bok programme continue to prepare the next generation of national players.
“We’ve invited union and schools’ coaches to join us and spend some time in the camp, so there’s a nice alignment and synergy between the different coaches and SA Rugby,” said Foote.
“We are grateful to the provincial unions and the schools for their excellent preparation of these young men. The partnerships throughout South African rugby are critically important to the success of our national age-group programmes.”
JWC-winning lock Jaythen Orange is currently sidelined with injury, while several players were not considered for selection due to other commitments. They are Quintin Potgieter, Jordan Steenkamp (all with the DHL Stormers), Markus Muller (Springboks), Ethan Adams (10bet Lions), Zekhethelo Siyaya (Hollywoodbets Sharks), and Lizwe Mtetwa (Blitzboks).
They remain part of the programme and will continue to be monitored by the Junior Bok management team.
SA U20 Academy squad for the camp in Stellenbosch:
Props: Jordan Jooste (DHL Stormers), Andre Poulton (Fidelity ADT Lions), Jeffrey Singo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Robert John-Osunkwo (Leopards), Bulela Mbala (Maties/DHL Stormers), Luan van den Berg (Vodacom Bulls), JG Badenhorst (Toyota Cheetahs), Matthew van der Merwe (DHL Stormers), Bernhard du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Zack Hickman (DHL Stormers).
Hookers: Altus Rabe (DHL Stormers), Thomas Muller (DHL Stormers), Keenan Myners (Fidelity ADT Lions), Clinton Agu (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Locks: Lwandile Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Juvan Burden (DHL Stormers), Lian Terblanche (Fidelity ADT Lions), Glodi Tshipamba (Vodacom Bulls), AJ Meyer (DHL Stormers), Migael Turner (Vodacom Bulls), Dominic Sesink-Clee (UCT/DHL Stormers), Jean Dreyer (Maties/DHL Stormers).
Loose forwards: Chenedu Amadi (Vodacom Bulls), Marko Kok (Fidelity ADT Lions), Xander Smit (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wasi Vyambwera (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Elwin Janse van Vuuren (Vodacom Bulls), Juan Visagie (Fidelity ADT Lions), Hendre van Zyl (DHL Stormers), Gert Kemp (DHL Stormers), Raphael Ajibade (Vodacom Bulls), Luke Kent (Fidelity ADT Lions), Jacobus de Villiers (DHL Stormers).
Scrumhalves: Jayden Brits (DHL Stormers), Jandrian Goosen (Vodacom Bulls), Morné Noble (Fidelity ADT Lions), Mickyle Booise (DHL Stormers).
Flyhalves: Liyema Nela (Vodacom Bulls), Jeandre Uithaler (Fidelity ADT Lions), Ruben Groenewald (Vodacom Bulls), Achmat Behardien (DHL Stormers).
Centres: Christian Vorster (Vodacom Bulls), Amogelang Mataboge (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Winton Abrahams (CUT/Toyota Cheetahs), Anrich Scheffer (Toyota Cheetahs), Randall-John Davids (DHL Stormers), William Ridl (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ethan Barker (DHL Stormers), Tiaan Basson (DHL Stormers).
Outside Backs: Jadrian Afrikaner (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Nathan Aneke (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Darren Makeze (Vodacom Bulls), Junaide Stuart (Vodacom Bulls), Anesu Kuzonyei (DHL Stormers), Thabiso Simelane (Vodacom Bulls), Reinhart Viljoen (Fidelity ADT Lions), Ty Ax (Fidelity ADT Lions), Lamla Mgedezi (DHL Stormers), Ethan van Biljon (DHL Stormers), Jonathan Harding (Vodacom Bulls), Thomas Saunders (UCT/DHL Stormers).
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