The Springboks will kickstart their 2024 season in Cape Town during the first week of March with their first in-person coaching strategy session and a two-day conditioning camp with a group of 43 players marking the team's start. It was their first gathering since their victory at the Rugby World Cup in France in 2023.
The group of 43 includes 39 domestic players and four Japan-based players who are currently recovering from injuries in South Africa. The group will meet on Tuesday, March 5th for a two-day board meeting to give everyone an update on how this season will proceed.
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Members of the 2023 Rugby World Cup winning squad include Ox Nche, Frans Malherbe (both props), Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Marco van Staden (flanker) and Kanan Moody (utility back)19 The name was included.
Meanwhile, several players, including Sanele Nohamba, Sacha Feinberg-Mgomezulu and Suleiman Hartzenberg, will once again work with part of the coaching staff after participating in alignment camps or the set-up at SA 'A' level. will be done. Meanwhile, some players will be experiencing Springbok rugby for the first time, including Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Quan Horn, Neesling Fouche and Marnus van der Merwe.
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Happily for Erasmus, 27 players in the group have Test caps, meaning there will be a healthy mix of youth and experience.
Speaking about the group of players invited to the camp, Erasmus said: “This squad includes several players who have been part of our organization over the last six years and are familiar with their experience and the way we operate at the Springboks; While he is an invaluable asset in coaching young players, he also has previous experience as a representative of the SA 'A' team which faced Munster and Bristol Bears in November 2022. There are some too.
“We also have some new players who have proven their worth at the state level, and we look forward to them receiving this opportunity and realizing what is expected of them at the highest level.”
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Players invited to Springbok training camp (in alphabetical order):
forward: Eben Ezebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Neesling Fouche (DHL Stormers), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Selimpiro Gumede (Vodacom Bulls), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Andre Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Elli Rowe (Vodacom Bulls), Wilco Rowe (Vodacom Bulls), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) ), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Ntukho Mchunu (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salman Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Luan Norche (Vodacom Bulls), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Kwaga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Toyota Cheetahs), Ruben van Heerden (DHL Stormers), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Luan Venter (Emirates Lions), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).
Bucks: Luhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Sasha Feinberg-Mgomezulu (DHL Stormers), Suleiman Hartzenberg (DHL Stormers) , Jaden Hendrickse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jordan Hendrickse (Emirates Lions), Quan Horn (Emirates Lions), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie Le. Lou (Vodacom Bulls), Manny Livbok (DHL Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kanan Moody (Vodacom Bulls), Sanele Nohamba (Emirates Lions), Morne van den Bergh (Emirates Lions), Henko van Wyk (Emirates Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
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Other camps are also planned.
This will be the first of three conditioning camps before the Springboks put the groundwork on the field for the international season, including two Tests against Ireland and the Castle Lager Inn in July. Includes the first international match against Portugal in the coming series.
Meanwhile, in the Rugby Championship, the world champions will play back-to-back Tests away against Australia, followed by back-to-back Tests at home against New Zealand, and two tests at home and away against Argentina.