Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote has included five players who will feature in their second World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Italy, with lock Riley Norton retained as captain for the tournament which will be staged from 29 June to 19 July.
South Africa’s Griffin Colby and Quinton Immelman were included amongst the list of match officials confirmed on Thursday for the forthcoming World Rugby Under-20 Rugby Championship, which kicks off in a month’s time in Italy.
The Junior Springboks fell short in their bid to capture the Under-20 Rugby Championship when they lost to New Zealand in Gqeberha, but SA U20 head coach Kevin Foote said the players can take huge positives from their courageous effort against the young Kiwis.
Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote credited Australia for staying in the fight and producing a gutsy second half performance to edge South Africa in their second round Under-20 Rugby Championship clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi shared some inspiring words with the future stars of South African rugby when he visited the Junior Springboks at their training session on the B-field of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
Former SA U18 lock and national age-group cricketer Riley Norton will captain the Junior Springboks against Argentina in the opening round of the Rugby Championship U20 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Thursday.
The Junior Springboks assembled in Gqeberha on Wednesday to begin their preparations for the Rugby Championship U20 and according to SA U20 coach Kevin Foote, they are happy to be in the Eastern Cape for the tournament, which kicks off next week at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Springbok speedster Cheslin Kolbe became the first backline player since 2013 to take the prestigious SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year title at a glittering SA Rugby Awards ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town, while Nadine Roos took home the top women’s award for a second time.
The Junior Springboks got their short tour of Georgia off to a good but cold start with a live training session against the Lelo Saracens club in Tbilisi.
A squad of 30 players will depart to Georgia on Sunday as the Junior Springboks kick off their 2025 season with a short tour, which features three matches and forms an integral part of the national Under-20 group’s preparations for the forthcoming season.