Junior Bok squad named for JWC title defence in Georgia

The Junior Springboks squad to represent South Africa at the 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship in Georgia was announced by SA u20 head coach Kevin Foote on Friday, with seven players from last year’s successful campaign in Italy included in the group.

South Africa will defend their title at the global showpiece, which takes place in Georgia, from 27 June to 18 July.

Captain Riley Norton (lock), Oliver Reid, Rambo Kubheka (props), Siphosethu Mnebelele (hooker), Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), Cheswill Jooste (wing), and Alzeadon Felix (fullback) were all part of the SA u20 side that won last year’s World Championship in Italy.

Ten members of the JWC squad were included in the wider Springbok group for the Barbarians fixture and the SA ‘A’ match against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha on 20 June, while Cheswill Jooste remains with the Vodacom Bulls, who have qualified for next Friday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final.

The Junior Bok squad consists entirely of players who have attended previous training camps in Stellenbosch, as well as the recent U20 International Series and the SANZAAR U20 Rugby Championship, both of which South Africa won.

Norton is one of the players included in the wider Springbok group, along with Reid and Danie Kruger (props); Mnebelele and Liam van Wyk (hookers); Moyo (flyhalf); Yaqeen Ahmed (flyhalf/centre); Luan Giliomee (utility back); Markus Muller (centre); and Zekhethelo Siyaya (fullback). They will join the Junior Bok squad as soon as they are released from senior national duty.

Muller and Siyaya are joined by eight other players in the squad who are still u19 and eligible to play in next year’s JWC as well. They are Jordan Jooste and Luan van den Berg (props), Jaythen Orange (lock), Gert Kemp and Wasi Vyambwera (loose forwards), Jayden Brits (scrumhalf), Ethan Adams (centre), and Jordan Steenkamp (wing).

The players will be capped on Saturday, 13 June, and will continue their final preparations at their Stellenbosch base camp before departing for Georgia on Monday, 22 June.

Reflecting on the final selection, which required the coaches to trim the wider training squad to the official JWC group, Foote said the process was extremely tough.

“It was the most difficult decision for my fellow coaches and me,” said Foote.

“Any of those players not selected would have done a great job for us in Georgia. It was the most difficult decision we had to make because of the quality of players and the calibre of young men we’ve had the privilege of working with during the past six months in our programme.”

Foote also said the players and their provincial teams deserve credit for the way they have supported the Junior Bok programme.

“Our staff worked incredibly hard to get the young men ready for this championship, and credit must also go to the players who have given so much to us through their dedication and commitment,” he said.

“And then, of course, their provincial teams must be commended for their support and how they have prepared the players for us.

“Congratulations to everyone selected. They had to work incredibly hard and have delivered on everything that we’ve asked of them thus far.”

Foote also acknowledged those who missed out: “There were numerous positions where it was very tight, and where several players knocked really hard on the door.

“In the end, you can only take the allowed number of players to Georgia, which meant heartbreak for several of them. We all feel for those young men; they will be hurting, and we are thankful for their fantastic attitude, hard work, and dedication.

“We will play to the best of our ability for our country and especially for them, and we hope to make everyone proud.”

The Junior Boks are grouped in Pool A with Wales, Georgia, and Uruguay, and will be based in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi for the pool stages.

The SA u20s open their campaign against Uruguay at Avchala Stadium on Saturday, 27 June. Their remaining pool matches are against the hosts, Georgia, on 2 July, and Wales, on 7 July.

The ranking playoffs will take place on 12 and 13 July, with the remaining ranking playoffs on 17 July, followed by the third-place match and the final on 18 July.

Junior Boks’ 2026 World Junior Championship squad:

Props: Oliver Reid (DHL Stormers), Rambo Kubheka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jordan Jooste (DHL Stormers), Danie Kruger (DHL Stormers), Luan van der Berg (Vodacom Bulls).

Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Liam van Wyk (Hollywoodbets Sharks).

Locks: Heinrich Theron (Vodacom Bulls), Jaythen Orange (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Riley Norton (captain, DHL Stormers), JD Hattingh (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).

Loose forwards: Kebotile Maake (Vodacom Bulls), Risima Khosa (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Luke Cannon (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Wasi Vyambwera (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vuyo Gwiji (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Gert Kemp (DHL Stormers), Thomas Beling (Fidelity Securedrive Lions)*.

Scrumhalves: Hendré Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls), Jayden Brits (DHL Stormers).

Flyhalves: Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL Stormers), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks).

Centres: Ethan Adams (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Samuel Badenhorst (DHL Stormers), Markus Muller (DHL Stormers).

Outside and utility backs: Luan Giliomee (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheswill Jooste (Vodacom Bulls), Jack Benade (DHL Stormers), Jordan Steenkamp (DHL Stormers)*, Zekhethelo Siyaya (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Alzeadon Felix (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).

* Final inclusion pending the availability of players currently on senior duty.

Team management:

Kevin Foote – Head coach
Lumumba Currie – Assistant coach
Melusi Mthethwa – Assistant coach
Barend Pieterse – Coaching consultant
Zingi Hela – Team manager
Dr Clement Plaatjies – Team doctor
Warren Adams – Head of athletic performance
Farhaanah Nagia – Physiotherapist
Robin Williams – Physiotherapist
Rayaan Adriaanse – Media and PR manager
Zwonaka Mbedzi – Technical analyst
Franklin van Wyk – Logistics manager

Issued by SA Rugby Communications