Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote expressed his satisfaction with the first of two SA Rugby Under-19 Academy camps, which ended in Stellenbosch on Sunday, with the second camp kicking off this weekend.
Foote and his coaching staff worked with a group of 48 players at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport, with the camp laying the foundation for the identification and preparation of the next generation of Junior Springboks.
The second camp, which starts on Sunday and will also run for two weeks until 21 December, will be hosted at the same Stellenbosch venue, whereafter the 2025 SA Rugby Academy programme will commence in the new year. A host of new players were added to the squad.
Looking back at the first camp which ended last Sunday, Foote said he was delighted with the preparations and interactions between the new-look Junior Bok coaching and management group and the players.
“The focus of the two camps is to build trust and pay attention to performance, and I thought that the first camp did a good job in laying that foundation,” said Foote.
“We put emphasis on building trust with the players and the local rugby communities such as Stellenbosch, Boland and the surrounding areas.
“We are very grateful for to Boland who allowed us to use their stadium on Saturday for a North vs South training match in Wellington, and we are thankful to the local rugby community who came to support the players.”
From a technical aspect, the objectives of the camp were to focus on the fundamentals and set phase, according to Foote: “We want to play fast and be physical, and in doing that, tap into our South African rugby DNA, and to develop our strengths as a group.
“There is a lot of excitement amongst the players for this wonderful chance to attend a national rugby training programme and they do understand this is a huge opportunity to, in some way, contribute towards the incredible story of South African rugby.”
The following players were not part of the first camp: Rouwan Mitchell, Ulrich van der Merwe, Tebogo Nkosi, Xabiso Mkiva, Jacobus Fourie, Riley Norton, Arno van der Merwe, Abri van der Westhuysen, Risima Khosa, Jeffwinn Wesso, Ceano Everson, Chris Horak, Vusi Moyo, Matthew Coetzee, Yaqeen Ahmed, Janco Purchase, Gino Cupido, Alzeadon Felix, Cheswill Jooste and Erich Visser.
Johan Ackermann, who will assist the Junior Boks in a coaching consultancy role next year, is expected to join up with the second from next week in Stellenbosch.
SA Rugby U19 Academy squad – second camp in Stellenbosch:
Props: Ranon Fouché (Vodacom Bulls), Rouwan Mitchell (Vodacom Bulls), Jean Erasmus (Vodacom Bulls), Simphiwe Ngobese (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Christoff Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ulrich van der Merwe (Fidelity ADT Lions), Tebogo Nkosi (Toyota Cheetahs), Ali Thiam (Vodacom Bulls).
Hookers: Jaundre Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls), HB Odendaal (Fidelity ADT Lions), Xabiso Mkiva (DHL Western Province), Stefan Venter (Toyota Cheetahs).
Locks: Jacobus Fourie (Vodacom Bulls), Kuhle Mthimkhulu (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Neil Hansen (Fidelity ADT Lions), Morne Venter (Fidelity ADT Lions), Danio Botha (DHL Western Province), Riley Norton (DHL Western Province), Arno van der Merwe (Toyota Cheetahs).
Loose forwards: Abri van der Westhuysen (Vodacom Bulls), Batho Hlekani (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Yabo Ndzamela (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Risima Khosa (Fidelity ADT Lions), Divan Fuller (DHL Western Province), Xola Nyali (DHL Western Province), Stephanus Linde (Toyota Cheetahs), Jeffwinn Wesso (SA Rugby Sevens).
Scrumhalves: Zeke January (Vodacom Bulls), Juan Loots (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ceano Everson (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Flyhalves: Chris Horak (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vusi Moyo (Fidelity ADT Lions), Matthew Coetzee (Fidelity ADT Lions), Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL Western Province).
Centres: Daniel van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls), Janco Purchase (Vodacom Bulls), Albie Bester (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Tirhani Masondo (Fidelity ADT Lions), Gino Cupido (DHL Western Province), Dominic Malgas (DHL Western Province)
Outside backs: Scott Nel (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jaco Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jody Schambreel (Fidelity ADT Lions), Gilermo Mentoe (Fidelity ADT Lions), Siya Ndlozi (DHL Western Province), Alzeadon Felix (Toyota Cheetahs), Cheswill Jooste (Vodacom Bulls), Erich Visser (Toyota Cheetahs), Chijindu Okonta (Hollywoodbets Sharks).