Phiwayinkosi Kubheka (prop) and Ian van der Merwe (flyhalf) have not played for the SA U20s before, while Jaco Grobbelaar (lock), Stephanus Linde (number 8) and Jaco Williams (outside back) are back in the squad after missing the recent U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha.

Kubheka played for the SA under 18 in 2024 and Van der Merwe in 2023, while Linde toured with the Junior Boks in Georgia earlier in 2025 before he picked up an injury which ruled him out of the Rugby Championship.

Grobbelaar and Williams were involved with the Vodacom United Rugby Championship squads with the Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks, respectively.

Grobbelaar is one of the five players who are returning for a second World Rugby Championship stint, alongside utility forward Bathobele Hlekani, prop Herman Lubbe, loose forward Wandile Mlaba and scrumhalf Haashim Pead.

Furthermore, six players who are still under 19 have been included in the squad, which bodes well for next season.

They are Kubheka and his fellow prop Oliver Reid, Siphosethu Mnebelele (hooker), Norton (lock), Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), and Cheswill Jooste (outside back).

According to Foote, the final selection process was a very difficult task and he and the coaching staff are very pleased with the final squad.

"The boys have all been superb in their attitude and application and most of the group have been together since November last year, when the SA under 19 Academy Programme kicked off in Stellenbosch," said Foote. 

--SABC--