Latest news with #U20WorldChampionship
The South African
a day ago
- Sport
- The South African
WATCH: SA U20 stars train with Springboks
In another example of some innovative thinking from Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, it was recently confirmed that three young stars had been called up to train with the senior team after their heroics at the U20 World Championship. Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste and Haashim Pead all earned the opportunity to train with the Springbok group during their two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg, which began on Sunday 27 July. It's something that has understandably excited the South African rugby community, and a clip recently posted by SuperSport shows the three young talents getting stuck into some gym work. In the recent U20 tournament, Hlekani impressed with his powerful performances at blindside flank, Pead set the tournament alight as the standout scrumhalf, while outside back Cheswill Jooste was a constant attacking threat. Speaking about the young guns invited to train with the squad for the next two weeks, Erasmus said: 'We are tremendously proud of the Junior Springboks for winning the World Rugby U20 Championship and we were thrilled to see the talent coming through the junior ranks, so we opted to invite three of them to join us to expose them to our structures and the standards required at top international level. 'We believe this camp will benefit them significantly, and we are excited to see how they slot in and train with us. 'Unfortunately, we had to limit the size of the squad to ensure maximum outputs and more individual attention at our training sessions, so although more players could have been invited, we could only select three.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Lions poach Sharks' Junior Bok star
The 20-year-old Hlekani played for the Sharks in last year's Currie Cup and came off the bench in their European Challenge Cup round-of-16 clash against Lyon in April. The Lions have acquired the services of Bathobele Hlekani after his standout performance at the U20 World Championship. Picture:. A world champion Junior Springbok is set to swap Durban for Joburg after the Currie Cup. Utility forward Bathobele Hlekani was a standout performer in Italy as South Africa won the World U20 Championship for the first time since 2012. He was also one of three Junior Boks – along with scrumhalf Haashim Pead and winger Cheswill Jooste – invited to train with the Springboks during their recent two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg. The 20-year-old Hlekani played for the Sharks in last year's Currie Cup and came off the bench in their European Challenge Cup round-of-16 clash against Lyon in April. He is part of the Sharks' 2025 Currie Cup squad but was rested for their opening match against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday. According to Planet Rugby, Hlekani will join the Lions ahead of the 2025-26 Vodacom URC season – bucking the recent trend of talent heading in the opposite direction. It's a major coup for the Lions, who have already secured Pead through to 2028 and signed exciting Grey College trio Ethan Adams, Sherwin Buys and David Hayidakis. This story was first published on It is republished here with permission.
The South African
6 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Junior Springbok star Haashim Pead named in Lions Currie Cup squad
Junior Springbok world champion Haashim Pead will make his senior debut for the Lions when he runs out for the Johannesburg-based side in this season's Currie Cup. Pead was named the Player of the Tournament following the Junior Boks' victory over New Zealand in the U20 World Championship final last Saturday. The young talent boasted incredible numbers, even surpassing France megastar Antoine Dupont's record for running metres by a scrumhalf at the tournament, racking up 232 metres from 15 carries during the pool stages. Pead also scored six tries and assisted four. He was one of three Junior Springboks – the others being Cheswill Jooste and Batho Hlekani – invited to train with the Springboks at an upcoming training camp. On Wednesday, Pead was also named in the Lions' Currie Cup squad, alongside Junior Bok team-mates Gilermo Mentoe, Thando Biyela and Morne Venter. Experienced hooker Jaco Visage will lead the Mziwakhe Nkosi-coached side once again. The duo led the Lions to the final in 2024, where they lost thanks a 60m Jordan Hendrikse penalty in the final play of the match. Perhaps fittingly, the Lions get their Currie Cup campaign underway against the Sharks in Johannesburg on Friday. Jaco Visagie (captain), SJ Kotze, Morgan Naude, Heiko Pohlmann, RF Schoeman, Conrad van Vuuren, Sebastian Lombard, Siya Dube, Stian de Bruyn, Franco Marais, Morne Brandon, Marno Grobbelaar, Thando Biyela, Raynard Roets, Darrien Landsberg, Dylan Sjoblom, Johnre Stopforth, Tiaan Wessels, Luca Ribbens, Renzoi du Plessis, Jarod Cairns, WJ Steenkamp, Izan Esterhuizen, Siba Zoma, Morne Venter Nico Steyn, Layton Horn, Zian Cilliers, Haashim Pead, Lubabalo Dobela, Sam Francis, Kade Wolhuter, Gianni Lombard, Tapiwa Mafura, Gilermo Mentoe, Rynhardt Jonker, Bingo Ivanisevic, Alzeadon Fleix, Kelly Mpeku, Bronson Mills, Manuel Rass, Rabz Maxwane, Angelo Davids, Likhona Finca, Keagan Smith, Michail Damon Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Junior Springboks united to conquer the world, says captain Norton
Captain Riley Norton led his Junior Springboks to a 23‑15 victory over New Zealand in the U20 World Championship final. The Junior Springboks became the third South African team to claim world champion status by outplaying New Zealand in the World Rugby U20 Championship Final in Rovigo on Saturday night. The Junior Springboks' tournament victory – their first since 2012 – came on a hot and humid night in Italy where they once again proved the masters of their southern hemisphere foes, beating the Kiwis for a seventh consecutive time in this tournament and the second time in a final, the same as in 2012, when the SA U20s outplayed NZ by 22-16. The SA U20s join the reigning Rugby World Cup champions, the Springboks, and the Blitzboks at the top of the World Rugby competition podium. Speaking to the media after the game, Norton emphasised the team's combined work-rate and unity as the core drivers of their success in Rovigo. 'I'm quite emotional, but I'm just so proud,' said the Paul Roos old boy. 'The amount of work that we put in after not a great TRC, our backs were against the wall and we just came out and gave it everything. 'The group is unbelievable, the management, the coaches – we all pulled into a common idea. It wasn't easy at times, but ja, this is the greatest day of my life.' Norton highlighted traditional South African strengths – physicality in scrums, mauls, and defensive intensity – as decisive. He explained that 'our DNA' carried the game, sustaining energy and aggression for the full 80 minutes. 'We had to show up physically. That's our DNA. That's where we South Africans get our passion and our energy from. The set-phase, the maul, the scrum, the hits – the guys did that for 80 minutes and that's where we get our DNA from.' He lauded Junior Springboks flyhalf Vusi Moyo for his key penalties, saying Moyo's goal-kicking kept them ahead. Of course (Vusi) Moyo with his unbelievable boot always putting us on the front foot and kicking those penalties, it's just unbelievable.' Norton revealed the Junior Springboks' appreciation for fan support from home, citing messages, videos, and encouragement as vital inspirations. Asked whether the Junior Springboks felt any pressure being the top seed coming into the tournament, Norton said there were nerves but never really pressure. 'The amount of support we received from South Africa, videos from our mates, people sending us messages and just backing us was just unbelievable. I'm so proud to be South African and we couldn't have done it without our fans back at home cheering us on every step of the way.' Junior Springboks 23 (13) – Tries: Xola Nyali, Gilermo Mentoe. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (2). Penalty goals: Moyo (3). New Zealand 15 (5) – Tries: Jayden Sa, Maloni Kunawave. Conversion: Will Cole. Penalty goal: Rico Simpson. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Junior Boks, champions of the world
Saturday marked the Junior Boks' first appearance in the final since 2014 and it is a repeat of the 2012 final in which South Africa beat six-time champions New Zealand at Newlands. Demitre Erasmus of South Africa in action during the Final of the U20 World Championship between New Zealand and South Africa at Stadio Mario Battaglini on July 19, 2025 in Rovigo, Italy. Picture:. The Junior Springboks have won the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Rovigo, Italy after a tense, bruising battle with arch-rivals New Zealand. Tries from flanker Xola Nyali and fullback Gilermo Mentoe, along with 13 points from the boot of flyhalf Vusi Moyo, secured the Junior Boks a 23-15 win and a first Under 20 Championship triumph since 2012. The Junior Boks opened the scoring in just the third minute through Nyali. The Baby Blacks hit back with a try of their own 12 minutes later, courtesy of lock Jayden Sa. The clash had a real final feel, with the South Africans not wasting an opportunity to take the points on offer. Moyo popped over two penalties to ensure South Africa went into the sheds with a 13-5 lead. Both teams had a player sent off in the first half. New Zealand lost loosehead prop Sika Pole to a 20-minute red card for a shoulder charge on JJ Theron, while the Junior Boks had to go without centre Albie Bester for ten minutes after a no-arms clear out at the ruck. Tight contest The second half was equally tight, with flyhalves Rico Simpson and Moyo exchanging penalties. A crucial moment in the match came in the 62nd minute, when tournament top try-scorer Haashim Pead was denied a seventh of the championship after the TMO ruled an infringement at the scrum enabled Pead to score. Mentoe's late try was followed almost immediately by the Junior All Blacks' first and only try by wing Maloni Kunawave. But it proved too little, too late as South Africa held on to take the honours in Italy. Saturday marked the Junior Boks' first appearance in the final since 2014 and it is a repeat of the 2012 final in which South Africa beat six-time champions New Zealand at Newlands. The Junior Boks were in rampant form throughout the championship in Italy, posting comprehensive wins over Australia, defending champions England and Scotland in the pool stage, followed by victory over Argentina in the semi-finals. This story was first published on It is republished here with permission.
