Fearless Rassie Erasmus invests in youth for Boks

Rassie Erasmus is building for the 2031 World Cup, as much as he is selecting for the 2027 World Cup. The Boks coach is fearless in his national call-ups, with 11 of the 21 uncapped players 20 years old and younger.

Rassie Erasmus backs young Boks

The Junior Springboks won the 2026 Sanzaar Rugby Championship title and Erasmus has rewarded several of the winners with their first Springboks squad selection.

Most will feature for South Africa ‘A’ against Zimbabwe on the 20th June, with the Springboks playing the Barbarians in a non-international. Both matches will be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.

It was at the same stadium that the Junior Springboks won the most recent Sanzaar title.

Age has never been a restriction for Erasmus. Good enough is old enough, be it 18 years-old or 38 years-old.

Erasmus named 51 players for the June 20 preparations. 

The under 20s will then join the Junior Boks in preparation for next month’s under 20 World Championship in Georgia.

Erasmus also picked several players from last season’s world champion Junior Springboks – all of whom have played in this season’s United Rugby Championship.

The group includes nine players who are yet to turn 20 years-old, with Stormers centre Markus Muller and Sharks utility back Zekhethelo Siyaya still 18 years-old.

Rassie Erasmus and his young Boks

By school representation

Paul Roos Gymnasium

• Riley Norton
• Oliver Reid

Grey College

• Danie Kruger
• Liam van Wyk

KES

• Siphosethu Mnebelele
• Vusi Moyo

Western Cape schools

• Markus Muller (Paarl Gim)
• Riley Norton (Paul Roos)
• Oliver Reid (Paul Roos)
• Yaqeen Ahmed (Wynberg)
• Luan Giliomee (Charlie Hofmeyr)

5 of the 11 came through Western Cape schools, 2 from Grey College, 2 from KES, 1 from Westville, and 1 from Noordheuwel.