The SA Rugby Under-19 Academy squad wasted no time in settling into their European base after arriving in Paris on Thursday, marking the start of their three-week tour of France and Ireland.
The 30-man touring party and team management have set up camp at the France High-Performance Centre (HPC) in Marcoussis, which is located approximately one hour’s drive outside of Paris. This modern, world-class facility, the heart of French rugby, provides the young South Africans with an impressive platform as they prepare for two tough international games plus an opposed training session.
Melusi Mthethwa, the Junior Springbok and SA U19 Academy attack coach, the environment is key to sharpening the squad’s focus on this tour, which forms a crucial element of the Junior Springbok pathway.
“The facilities here at Marcoussis are superb and give us the perfect launching pad for our preparation block, which include this tour,” Mthethwa said on Friday.
“This tour is a wonderful opportunity for all of us – players, coaches and management staff. We came to work, to embed the Junior Bok culture, and to ensure we leave Europe with a clearer blueprint of how we want to play.
“Of course, it also gives us an opportunity to tour two countries with rich rugby traditions and culture, which is fantastic to experience.”
On Friday, the players got straight down to business after breakfast, beginning the day with an early morning gym session before moving into the technical phase, focusing on unit specific sessions. This is where Mthethwa, alongside forwards coach Lumumba Currie and head coach Kevin Foote, drove home the details.
“The unit sessions today were critical – it’s about alignment, understanding of our game model and precision in our set-piece plays” said Mthethwa.
“The continuity we have – with five players returning from the World Rugby U20 Championship squad and several more that attended our SA U20 training camps earlier in the year, and the full Junior Bok management here – means we can build on what we already established back in Stellenbosch.”
The day will culminate in a full team training session on the Marcoussis fields, simulating the intensity they expect against France and Ireland.
For Mthethwa, the tour is not simply about results, it’s about integration into the Junior Bok culture and system, echoing the goals set by Foote, which are game model clarity, gaining confidence, and establishing connection.
“Every drill today, from the gym session to the final team huddle, has been focused on those three pillars,” Mthethwa emphasised.
“We want to establish clarity in our roles, the confidence to execute our style against top European opposition in their own backyard, and the connection with one another that defines the Junior Bok culture.”
The SA U19 Academy squad will have an opposed training session against a French U19 Invitational XV on Monday, 3 November. This will provide the first real measure of their progress before they take on the French U19 side on 8 November and the Ireland U19 team on 14 November.
Shadowdancer
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