The World Champion baby Boks have an exciting new generation of players coming through the ranks. Who are they? Writes Jon Cardinelli.
The Junior Springboks won the 2025 World Rugby U-20 Championship in Italy to end a 13-year wait for the title.
Since then, most of the players have gone on to represent their respective unions in the Currie Cup, while an especially talented trio – Bathobele Hlekani, Haashim Pead and Cheswill Jooste – have trained with the senior Springbok side, as coach Rassie Erasmus looks to the future.
“We were very pleased with the way they slotted into the training sessions and used the time to interact with the Springbok players and learn from them, even though we made it clear that there was no pressure on them to grasp all our structures and systems,” Erasmus said.
“They all have bright futures, and we hope the experience they gained and the lessons learned will set them in good standing, as they look to further develop their careers and strive to reach this level in the coming years.”
Some of the Junior Boks will be unleashed in the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup tournaments over the next few months, and it would not come as a surprise to see one or two pushing for a place in Erasmus’ squad ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
“My hope for these players now that they stay in the fight,” said South African U-20 coach Kevin Foote.
“They all have dreams to play for the Springboks, but the reality is that there will be a lot of players who never get the opportunity. They must just keep believing in what they have done. If they do that, there will be plenty of names you’ll see in the future.” SportsClub shines a light on the most promising players in the group.
BATHOBELE HLEKANI
Hlekani made his debut for Sharks in the URC and Champions Cup last season, and was subsequently included in the Junior Bok squad ahead of the 2025 World Rugby U-20 Championship. The powerfully built utility forward – who covers lock and blindside flank – made a series of significant contributions at the gainline over the course of that global tournament in Italy, as the Junior Boks stormed to their first title since 2012. Since then, Hlekani has been in high demand, with the Sharks and Lions vying for his services. While he is unlikely to represent the Boks in 2026, he may well be elevated when Pieter-Steph du Toit and other ageing stars hang up their boots.
CHESWILL JOOSTE
Jooste was part of an impressive Noordheuwel side that surprised many of South Africa’s top schools during the 2024 season. It did not take long for the elusive winger to catch the eye of Foote and the national selectors, and earn a call-up to the Junior Boks. Still only 19, Jooste is eligible for the upcoming campaign, and could add value to a Junior Bok side looking to win the U-20 Rugby Championship and defend their global title when they travel to Georgia in June. But after making his Currie Cup debut for the Bulls this past August, and impressing franchise coach Johan Ackermann enough to earn a place in the URC squad, the teenager may miss the junior tournaments altogether. Whisper it, but South African rugby may have unearthed the next Cheslin Kolbe.
RILEY NORTON
Few players receive the opportunity to play for their country, and even fewer get the chance to represent their nation in two different codes. Norton is clearly a rare breed of athlete, having featured for South Africa at the U-19 Cricket World Cup before going on to captain the Junior Boks at the recent U-20 Championship. Like Jooste, Norton is still only 19, and may only realise his full potential in the coming years. Only last year, he led Paul Roos to an unbeaten season – which is no mean feat considering the strength of other leading rugby schools like Grey College, Paarl Gymnasium and Paarl Boys High, among others. More recently, he was backed to represent Western Province in the Currie Cup, alternating between lock and blindside f lank. Norton’s work-rate and vision has set him apart, and has allowed him to make the step up to professional rugby a lot sooner than some of his peers. With franchise coach John Dobson looking to develop the younger generation, Norton should receive a fair amount of game time for the Stormers across the respective competitions.
HAASHIM PEAD
After scoring six tries and racking up four try-assists for the Junior Boks at the recent competition in Italy, the lightning-fast No.9 was named the U-20 Player of the Tournament. Pead also broke the record set by Antoine Dupont for the most metres made by a scrumhalf at the competition – and since then, comparisons between the Cape Town native and the French maestro have continued to be made. Despite coming through the Western Province ranks, Pead is contracted to the Lions, and looks set to make an impact for the Johannesburg-based side in the years to come. While the Boks are well stocked at scrumhalf, Pead may move up the pecking order if he continues to trouble defences with his exceptional pace from the base as well as his impeccable support running.
VUSI MOYO
The South African pack received most of the plaudits at the recent U-20 Championship tournament, and for good reason. That said, Moyo’s superb game management and accurate goal-kicking steered the team through some tight contests – and there is something to read into the fact that he finished the competition with a table-topping 63 points. The flyhalf was blooded by the Sharks in the recent Currie Cup tournament, and looks set to learn his craft alongside the likes of Jordan Hendrikse and Siya Masuku at the Durban franchise over the next few seasons.
OLIVER REID
The Junior Bok forwards dominated their New Zealand counterparts in the recent U-20 Championship final, and as a result, most of those front-rankers have been fast-tracked by their respective unions in the Currie Cup. Reid is a highly rated scrummager and ball-carrier, and appears to be a good fit for a Stormers side that are focusing on their set piece and attack in the URC and Champions Cup.
JACO WILLIAMS
Despite his modest size – 1.75m and 73kg – Williams has made a big impact for club and country over the past 12 months or so. Sharks coach John Plumtree unleashed Williams in last season’s URC, and it was not long before he was snapped up the Junior Boks. The explosive winger was among the top try-scorers at the U-20 Championship, dotting down four times. Williams has gone on to represent the Sharks in the Currie Cup, and will continue to grow in stature when he plays alongside Bok regulars such as Makazole Mapimpi, Aphelele Fassi and Lukhanyo Am in the URC and Champions Cup.
