Latest news with #JuniorBoks
IOL News
an hour ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Haashim Pead in Lions' Currie Cup squad after dream U20 tournament with Junior Springboks
Scrumhalf Haashim Pead, who starred for the Junior Boks at the World Rugby U20 Championship, has been included in the Lions' Currie Cup squad. Star Junior Springbok scrumhalf Haashim Pead has been included in the Lions' Currie Cup squad following his outstanding performances at the U20 World Championships. Pead won the Player-of-the-Tournament award after the Junior Boks beat their New Zealand counterparts in the final to lift the trophy for the first time since 2012. The speedy No 9 scored six tries and assisted four during the tournament. He also surpassed France star Antoine Dupont's record for running metres by a scrumhalf at the tournament, racking up 232m from 15 carries during the pool stages. On Wednesday, Pead was also invited to the Springboks' training camp ahead of their home Rugby Championship matches against Australia. He will be joined in camp by flank Bathobele Hlekani and outside centre Cheswill Jooste to see first hand how the Boks prepare for a big tournament.
News24
6 hours ago
- Sport
- News24
Rassie trims Boks for Rugby Championship: No Faf, newbies make their mark
The Springboks have named a 37-man squad for their first two matches in the 2025 Rugby Championship. There are some big omissions, including Faf de Klerk, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi. Coach Rassie Erasmus has also invited three Junior Boks to join a two-week training camp ahead of the tournament. For more Springbok news, click HERE. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named a 37-man squad for the first two Tests of their 2025 Rugby Championship campaign against Australia next month. The Boks will host the Wallabies on 16 August (Johannesburg) and 23 August (Cape Town). A number of players, including some big names, who featured in the recently completed three incoming Tests against Italy and Georgia have been released. They include Faf de Klerk, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos, Neethling Fouche and Vincent Tshituka, who are all on standby. Elsewhere, there is a familiar feel while newbies Ethan Hooker (utility back), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter (both props), Marnus van der Merwe (hooker), and Cobus Wiese (utility forward) have all kept their places. Erasmus has also invited three players from the Junior Springbok World Cup-winning squad to join the Boks during their two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg starting on Sunday, 27 July. They are Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead. Prop Thomas du Toit, who plays his rugby in England with Bath, has been given a standard two-week rest as requested by the English Premiership, though he can be called up at any stage should the need arise, while No 8 Jasper Wiese is currently serving a four-week suspension, ruling him out of this squad. There are nine Bulls, 11 Sharks, four Stormers, two Lions and 11 overseas-based players in the squad. 'It's always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands... but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Rugby Championship,' said Erasmus in a statement. 'This group includes several experienced players and a few younger guys, who grabbed their chances in the last few Tests, so we are pleased with this squad for the first two matches. 'We have also informed the players on standby what our plans are and what we expect from them, so that all of them are ready to step up if needed.' Erasmus said one of the major strengths of the squad was its versatility. 'We probably have three players who can cover each position, which is important in this competition, so it was a thorough process to narrow down the group to 37 players,' he said. 'One of our key pillars as a team is to build squad depth, and there is no better way to see what some of the younger players are capable of than to expose them to some of the top teams in the world.'
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Triumphant Junior Bok captain Norton content with choosing rugby
Norton made the tough decision to choose rugby over cricket, having played for the Proteas U19 team at last year's U19 Cricket World Cup in SA. Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton on his arrival with the World Rugby U20 Championship trophy at OR Tambo airport earlier this week. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images Triumphant Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton is content with his decision to choose pursuing rugby over cricket, and he admits that winning the World Rugby U20 Championship certainly makes it feel like he made the correct call. Norton led the Junior Bok side through an unbeaten campaign in Italy, which culminated with a 23-15 win over the Junior All Blacks in the final on Saturday, which saw them become just the second South African team to lift the trophy, after the class of 2012 did it on home turf. Norton is a dual sports star and during his matric year in 2024 he represented the Proteas U19 team during the U19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa. However, since finishing school he has signed a contract with Western Province rugby, and was selected as captain of the Junior Boks, leading them during the U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha earlier this year, and at the world champs. 'I am very content with my choice, and winning competitions makes it a lot easier. I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to play both sports, and cricket taught me so much that I can take into rugby,' said Norton after lifting the trophy on Saturday night. 'So I am really grateful for the opportunities I have been given in South Africa. But there's no sport like rugby if I'm being honest. I love the camaraderie, the intensity and the physical and mental part of it. 'I'm very grateful to be in a position like this, being able to play rugby for my country, and hopefully I can continue growing.' Cricket low Norton also experienced the lows of a major competition, when the Proteas U19s were beaten in the semifinals of last year's U19 World Cup, and he said he had taken plenty out of that disappointment, which had helped him during the U20 championship. 'It's definitely something I thought about personally. That semifinal (loss) against India hurt me quite a bit, because we were in such a good position and chucked it away, especially playing at home,' explained Norton. 'So you never like to lose semis and finals, but that (loss) taught me a lot. Things like staying in the present, not being complacent and taking things moment by moment and whistle to whistle. That's something I took out of cricket that I could put into rugby. 'That definitely did motivate me, because we all want to win trophies and medals in sport. So to get so close in such an unbelievable set-up and environment and come up short in a game we should've won, gave me personal motivation to try and get us (Junior Boks) over the line. 'I'm just so proud of the guys and the effort that they put in, because without the team and the whole unit of coaches and management, none of this would've been possible.'
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Five players to watch as Junior Springboks gear up for Currie Cup challenge
Scrumhalf Haashim Pead, who starred for the Junior Boks at the World Rugby U20 Championship, will be one of the players looking to make it at senior level should he get an extended run at the Lions in the Currie Cup this season. Image: Maurilio Boldrini / World Rugby After their success at the World Rugby U20 Championship, several Junior Springboks will get a well-deserved break, but then it is straight back into the Currie Cup at their respective unions. While the tournament, kicking off this weekend, is not as prestigious as in previous years, the developmental aspect of it could aid some of the U20 players taking part. This will be a perfect platform from which they can launch their senior careers, looking at cracking a nod at their United Rugby Championship (URC) franchises. We look at five players who must take the next step in their careers. Haashim Pead (Lions) The Junior Bok vice-captain could be the perfect understudy to Springbok Morné van den Berg when it comes to the URC. For that to happen, the Lions must back him in the Currie Cup and give him as many minutes as possible to find his feet. Pead has the pedigree to become great at the union, but it will all depend on how they utilise him. His instinctive plays will suit the Lions' game. He is quick behind the breakdown, and Pead has this ability to see space that few scrumhalves in South Africa possess. His kicking game will also benefit from senior rugby. Batho Hlekani (Sharks) Hopefully, the Durban side will have a proper plan and pathway for his special talent after showing off his all-around skills in the U20 Championship. Hlekani was the physical heartbeat of the Baby Boks. But he is not just a strong defender, although the opposition felt his hard hits right through the tournament, Hlekani is also a strong ball carrier. While he knows how to take the ball up into tackles with his direct plays, he also has a keen eye for gaps and a great turn of pace. Vusi Moyo (Sharks) Another young South African flyhalf with a good all-round game. He was running the attacking show of the Junior Boks alongside Pead and looked to be in total control when it came to spreading the ball down the backline or taking it up himself. Moyo can be physical too and doesn't back down from the dirty work in contact. He compliments that attacking gameplay well with his kicking and he looks so calm with the ball in hand or when putting it up in the sky. The real test will come when he plays against seasoned Currie Cup players. Cheswill Jooste (Bulls) He's been likened to Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe for his pace and stepping exploits during the tournament, and the way he scored tries, chased high kicks, and sidestepped opponents showed why he was one of the stars of the side. The Bulls' game will suit Jooste and the players around him should be able to get him into space whenever he gets a run for the side. He ran circles around his opposition in Italy, but must now step it up against some of his teammates who know him and other more experienced wings in the tournament. Riley Norton (Western Province) A leader of men and Western Province will have to look after their Junior Springbok-winning captain in the future. While they have some big names when it comes to the lock position, it will be crucial to get Norton involved in their campaign. Alongside Hlekani, Norton led the physical charge of the team throughout the tournament. However, his leadership qualities and how he kept his team calm and fighting stood out. He leads by example when it comes to the physical things on the field and a campaign against hardened senior players will stand him in good stead.
The Citizen
a day ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
'Johan will do well at Bulls' – Foote hails Ackermann's impact at U20s
Johan Ackermann's advisory role with the Junior Boks has come to a triumphant end, as he moves on to coaching the Bulls. Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote believes incoming Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann will produce the goods and lead the team to new heights, after his successful stint with the national U20 team which ended in World Championship glory. The former Lions coach, who also coached in England and Japan over the past seven years, was brought into the Junior Bok setup late last year as a coaching consultant, lending his considerable experience to the junior side since. The South African Rugby Union was reportedly so impressed by Ackermann's work that they had already asked him to consider staying on, but the lure of coaching one of the country's top franchise teams was too much and he accepted the Bulls' offer. 'He's a brilliant coach' After the World Rugby U20 Championship final on Saturday, Foote was asked about the impact Ackermann had on the junior side's success, and he claimed that it was huge. 'I can't speak more highly about Johan Ackermann. He's a brilliant coach. He coaches so well technically, but he is also a cultural coach. He's so good for our environment, he knows when to smile, sometimes he's dancing, sometimes he's serious,' said Foote. 'He gets the balance right and I think the fitness and love he showed to our forward pack in particular and brought these guys up with Mushie (Junior Bok forwards coach Lumumba Currie) was fantastic. 'Johan is going to do very well at the Bulls. He's just a good person and good things happen to good people. So in my opinion Johan had a massive impact on our (successful) campaign.' Stepping up to senior level With the Junior Bok players having now arrived back in SA from the World Champs in Italy, it will be interesting to see how many of them will be able to make the step up into senior rugby going forward. With the Currie Cup kicking off it will be a great chance for some of them to get some good experience, and the Bulls have already announced that five Junior Boks – Siphosethu Mnebelele, Jaco Grobbelaar, JJ Theron, Cheswill Jooste and Demitre Erasmus – are in their squad for the competition. 'I actually think quite a lot of them could make the step up. Once you put these guys in the right environment they will flourish,' said Foote. 'Riley (Norton, Junior Bok captain) as a case in point, he finished school last year, he plays in the tight five and he now captains us. He is still going to be with us next year. 'So I believe this is such a talented group and in the right environment they will kick on. I think you are going to see a lot of these names going forward for South African rugby and in the URC.'
