Phendulani Buthelezi will lead the Junior U20 Springboks in Argentina this year at the World Rugby U20 Championship which will take place from 4-22 June.
He will be assisted by two co-vice-captain’s in Francke Horn and Rikus Pretorius who are two of four players who featured for the Junior Springboks last year whilst David Coetzer and Asenathi Ntlabakanye also make their return.
The squad also features young sevens star Angelo Davids who has already played in two HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments this season.
The 28-man squad will train in Stellenbosch for the next three weeks before departing for South America on 29 May.
Speaking about the squad, coach Chean Roux said that it is a big mix of different players.
“We selected a squad that shows a good mix of players who have featured at a few different levels of the game, both at junior and senior level, as well as a number of talented young players,” said Roux.
“We had to make a few tough calls as always, but we had to select the players we thought have what it takes to compete against the best U20 players in the world.”
Junior Springbok squad for the World Rugby U20 Championship (in alphabetical order):
Thaakir Abrahams (Cell C Sharks; utility back)
Dian Bleuler (DHL Western Province; prop)
Phendulani Buthelezi (captain – Cell C Sharks; loose forward)
David Coetzer (DHL Western Province; flyhalf)
Angelo Davids (SA Rugby contracted; wing)
Caleb Dingaan (Cell C Sharks; wing)
Kudzwai Dube (Vodacom Blue Bulls; prop)
Celimpilo Gumede (Cell C Sharks; loose forward)
Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks; scrumhalf)
Francke Horn (vice-captain – DHL Western Province; No 8)
Vaughen Isaacs (Vodacom Blue Bulls; fullback)
Hanro Jacobs (Cell C Sharks; prop)
David Kriel (DHL Western Province; utility back)
Jaco Labuschagne (Vodacom Blue Bulls; loose forward)
Elrigh Louw (Toyota Free State; lock)
Fezokuhle Mbatha (Cell C Sharks; hooker)
Thabiso Mdletshe (Cell C Sharks; prop)
JJ van der Mescht (Cell C Sharks; lock)
James Mollentze (Toyota Free State; utility back)
Sanele Nohamba (Cell C Sharks; scrumhalf)
Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Xerox Golden Lions; prop)
Marnus Potgieter (Vodacom Blue Bulls; utility back)
Rikus Pretorius (vice-captain – DHL Western Province; centre)
Dylan Richardson (Cell C Sharks; utility forward)
Sibusiso Sangweni (Xerox Golden Lions; loose forward)
Emile van Heerden (Cell C Sharks; lock)
Dameon Venter (Xerox Golden Lions; hooker)
Mnombo Zwelendaba (DHL Western Province; centre)
Featured Image: SA Rugby
