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DHL WP stars make next cut

PUBLISHED: April 4, 2015


The SARU national selectors have named a squad of 37 players for the Junior Springbok training camp in preparation for the 2015 World Rugby Under-20 Championship to be played during June in Italy.

The revised training squad will assemble in Stellenbosch on Easter Monday and was confirmed after a four-day trials camp last week (also in Stellenbosch).

The group includes several players who are currently busy with Vodacom Super Rugby, Vodacom Cup and Varsity Cup commitments. These players, such as Thomas du Toit, Dan du Preez (both Cell C Sharks) and Hanro Liebenberg (Vodacom Blue Bulls), will join the training camp at a later stage.

The training group consists of 20 backs and 17 forwards, with the bulk of the players drawn from the ranks of DHL Western Province (12), the Vodacom Blue Bulls (10) and the Cell C Sharks (8).

The DHL WP players are prop Frans van Wyk, loose forwards Jacques Vemeulen and Rikus Bothma, scrumhalves Justin Phillips and Remu Malan, flyhalves Brandon Thompson and Ernst Stapelberg, wing Leolin Zas, centre Daniel du Plessis, wings/fullbacks Grant Hermanus, Khanyo Ngcukana and EW Viljoen.

Dawie Theron, the Junior Springbok coach, described last week’s trials camp as a very good exercise. “We could get a nice close up look at the performances of a large group of promising players and how they responded to the instructions we gave them.

“The youngsters spent valuable time with the SARU Mobi-Unit and I am sure they now have a good understanding of our playing principles and structures.

“The hard work starts now to prepare them for the very demanding and tough U20 Championship,” said Theron.

THE 2015 JUNIOR SPRINGBOK TRAINING GROUP IS:

Forwards (20):
Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks)
Joseph Dweba (Toyota FS Cheetahs)
Frans van Wyk (DHL Western Province)
Abongile Nonkontwana (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
RG Snyman (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
CJ Velleman Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Jean-Luc du Preez (Cell C Sharks)
Hanro Liebenberg (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Ox Nche (Toyota FS Cheetahs)
Jan van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls
Conrad van Vuuren (Toyota FS Cheetahs)
Jason Jenkins (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Hyron Andrews (Cell C Sharks)
Jacques Vemeulen (DHL Western Province)
Rikus Bothma (DHL Western Province)
Mzamo Majola (Cell C Sharks)
Reinach Venter (Toyota FS Cheetahs)
Ruan Kramer (Cell C Sharks)
Dan du Preez (Cell C Sharks)
Walt Steenkamp (Leopards)

Backs (17):
Justin Phillips (DHL Western Province)
Brandon Thompson (DHL Western Province)
Leolin Zas (DHL Western Province)
Daniel du Plessis (DHL Western Province)
Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Jinx Molapo (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Grant Hermanus (DHL Western Province)
Ivan van Zyl (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Ernst Stapelberg (DHL Western Province)
Khanyo Ngcukana (DHL Western Province)
Adrian Maebane (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
JT Jackson (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
EW Viljoen (DHL Western Province)
Marco Janse van Vuuren (Xerox Golden Lions)
Innocent Radebe (Cell C Sharks)
Malcolm Jaer (EP Kings)
Remu Malan (DHL Western Province)