Heineken Champions Cup newcomers dominate Springboks team

The Springboks have announced that centre Lukhanyo Am will be stepping in to replace wing orl following the fractured cheekbone injury sustained in last night's match against Tonga. It's worth noting that Am was a part of the South African squad that secured the Rugby World Cup in 2019, and he even played a pivotal role by providing the assist for…

Four years ago Andre Esterhuizen just missed out on World Cup selection, but his consistently impressive performances over the last 18 months have booked him a deserved spot in the Springboks' 33-man squad. Esterhuizen has added real competition at inside centre, and below we highlight some key information about the 29-year-old in our ongoing…

Why has 2019 Rugby World Cup winner Handre Pollard been left out of the Springboks 2023 squad? Pollard has been deemed'not match fit' ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber reiterated that Lukhanyo Am, Handre Pollard and Lood de Jager were not fit to begin the Rugby World Cup and therefore could not be taken…

South Africa Head Coach Jacques Nienaber has named his 33-man squad, as the Springboks look to retain their Rugby World Cup title. The Springboks side is an exciting mix of youth and World Cup experience, with the squad unveiled in Johannesburg today. Nine of the'Boks players will be appearing at their third Rugby World Cup, with 21 in total…

Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber has named his 33-man Rugby World Cup squad ahead of the tournament in France next month, with a number of key players missing. As reported earlier today, first-choice outhalf Handre Pollard (calf), centre Lukhanyo Am (knee) and Lood de Jager (chest problem) are all absent from the squad, and have been placed…

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has named his 33 players for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The squad was announced in Johannesburg on Tuesday and saw some few key players missing. South Africa's number one choice Flyhalf Handre Pollard will miss the World Cup due to a calf injury while highly rated centre Lukhanyo Am sustained a knee injury…

The Springboks will travel to the World Cup with four scrumhalves, a former Ireland lock and their oldest debutant after it was confirmed that the world champions will be without a trio of key players in France. Jacques Nienaber's 33-player squad features a strong mix of experience and some of the best up-and-coming young players in the country,…

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named 21 players with Rugby World Cup experience (nine of whom will be appearing at their third Rugby World Cup) when he revealed the defending champion's squad of 33 players for the 2023 edition in Johannesburg on Tuesday. Nienaber's squad featured a strong mix of experience and some of the best up-and-coming young…

New faces in Springbok team to face Pumas as Rugby World Cup preparations gorge ahead. Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi will captain the national team for first time on Saturday when he leads a new-look combination against Argentina in Buenos Aires in the first of three Rugby World Cup warm-up games. The team shows 13 changes to the starting…

Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi will captain the national team for first time on Saturday when he leads a new-look combination against Argentina in Buenos Aires in the first of three Rugby World Cup warm-up games. The team shows 14 changes to the starting line-up, while the 23 includes talented prop Gerhard Steenekamp, who could make his Springbok…

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will make a notable return from a shoulder injury as the captain of the team to face New Zealand in the second Castle Lager Rugby Championship Test in Auckland on Saturday. Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named 10 of the 14 players who travelled to New Zealand a week ago to acclimatise to the conditions and time zone…

Munster Rugby's Jean Kleyn, who will make his Springboks debut this Saturday MUNSTER Rugby second-row Jean Kleyn will make his Springbok Test debut in their opening Rugby Championship clash against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. South African-born Kleyn made five appearances for Ireland, after qualifying on residency in 2019, including…

The experienced Duane Vermeulen will captain the Springboks for the third time in their Rugby Championship opener against Australia on Saturday. Vermeulen will lead a team full of experienced players and newcomers, with former Ireland international lock Jean Kleyn making his debut. Stormers flyhalf Manie Libbok and loose forward Marco van Staden…

Vermeulen to lead Boks as Kleyn earns SA debut against Australia Experienced No 8 Duane Vermeulen will lead the Springboks for the third time in their opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. Vermeulen leads a team featuring a core of Rugby World Cup winners and talented newcomers - who have…

Munster lock Jean Kleyn could be set to feature for South Africa in the World Cup despite the 29-year-old having played five Tests for Ireland and featuring at the 2019 World Cup. Kleyn's fine form had seen him linked with a return to the Ireland squad ahead of this year's addition but now the Springboks have invited him to join their training…

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named a Castle Lager Rugby Championship training squad of 40 players - which features a handful of overseas based players - for their next assignment, a three-week training camp in Pretoria from Sunday until Thursday, 29 June. The additional players that will assemble in the capital are Cheslin Kolbe (wing), Andre…

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber announced a squad of 33 players for their second preparation camp in Durban. The squad includes 10 players who featured in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final in Cape Town and a host of overseas-based players. The squad is more than double the size of the training squad that participated in the first…

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber had the luxury of naming a group of 33 players for their second preparation camp in Durban from Monday to Wednesday, which included 10 players who featured in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final in Cape Town on Saturday evening, and a host of overseas-based players. The squad is more than double the…

Former Junior Springbok backs Manie Libbok and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu earned their first Springbok call-ups on Friday, while there was a recall for Jason Jenkins, who is back in the national set-up four years after making his Test debut, as head coach Jacques Nienaber named his 35-man squad for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour. South Africa'A'…

RASSIE ERASMUS has cast doubt on Munster star RG Snyman's ability to get back fit for the World Cup. he director of rugby as South Africa Rugby said that the brilliant lock's injury profile is a major concern. Snyman has suffered a succession of serious knee injuries since joining Munster and has yet to play this season after suffering another…

South Africa'A' coach Mzwandile Stick, meanwhile, included nine capped Springboks in a 19-man squad that will travel to Ireland next week Saturday for their two-match tour against Munster and the Bristol Bears, where they will be joined by seven players from Nienaber's squad following the Springboks' opening Test against the top-ranked team in the…

Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber has retained the same starting lineup from the last outing against Australia, while Argentina coach Michael Cheika has made seven changes to his team after a heavy defeat last time out against New Zealand. In South Africa, the match will kick off at 21:10. For the Springboks, there are so changes on the bench where…