Rassie Erasmus has named a 40-man Springbok alignment camp squad featuring 10 uncapped players.
Sharks youngster Zekhethelo Siyaya and Lions loose forward Sibabalwe Mahashe get their first invitations as Erasmus casts the net wide for the Springboks’ blockbuster 2026 season.
Bulls scrumhalf Embrose Papier – who has been in unmissable form this season – finally gets a call-up after missing out on the previous two alignment camps this year. Lions No 8 Francke Horn and centre Henco van Wyk, and Stormers hooker André-Hugo Venter have also been included.
“This camp will be a good opportunity to expose those invited to our setup and the standards expected of the national coaches,” said Erasmus.
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“We’re looking forward to involving Sibabalwe, Zekhethelo, André, Embrose, Francke, and Henco at this camp as we continue to build our squad depth.”
Erasmus said the camp is designed to familiarise emerging players with the Springboks’ structures as several senior internationals continue their recovery from injury.
“It’s important to be clear about the objective of this alignment camp, and that is to expose these players to our environment, our standards, and the way we operate,” he said.
“This week will give us the chance to align those who are fit and firing now with the way we want to operate, so that when an opportunity arises either this year or further down the line, they are ready to step up and deliver at international level.”
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The Springboks begin their international season on 20 June against the Barbarians. That will be followed by home Tests against England, Scotland and Wales before a four-Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks.
Alignment camp squad:
Forwards: Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Neethling Fouché, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Salmaan Moerat, Riley Norton, Zachary Porthen, Evan Roos, André-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 Vodacom Bulls); Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche, Emmanuel Tshituka (all Sharks).
Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Embrose Papier, Handre Pollard (all Vodacom Bulls); André Esterhuizen, Zekhethelo Siyaya, Edwill van der Merwe, Grant Williams, Jaco Williams (all Sharks); Quan Horn, Haashim Pead, Henco van Wyk, Morné van den Berg (all Lions); Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse (both DHL Stormers).
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
The post Rassie rewards Embrose, Mahashe with camp call-up appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
