Latest news with #WandileMlaba
The Citizen
27-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Foote makes changes to Junior Boks team for U20 Championship opener
The Junior Boks were last in action on home soil at the 2025 U20 Rugby Championship, held in Gqeberha. The Junior Boks take on Australia in Calvisano on Sunday. Here, from left to right, are: Simphiwe Moyo, captain Riley Norton, coach Kevin Foote, Wandile Mlaba and Hassiem Pead. Picture: Misha Jordaan/Gallo Images The Junior Springboks kick off their World Rugby U20 Championship with a clash against old rivals, Australia, in Calvisano, Italy on Sunday, with kick-off at 3.30pm. While the team is a settled one, it does show four changes from the side that ran New Zealand close in the teams' final match of the U20 Rugby Championship, played in Gqeberha, last month. Coach Kevin Foote has made one change in the backline and three in the pack from the side that were pipped by New Zealand. Siya Ndlozi replaces Gino Cupido on the left wing, while the rest of the backline remain the same. In the starting pack, two changes are made at the side of the scrum, with flankers Batho Hlekani and Xola Nyali forming the loose trio combination with No 8 Wandile Mlaba, while in the front row Herman Lubbe gets the nod at tighthead ahead of Jean Erasmus, who is now set to play off the bench. Jaco Grobbelaar (lock), who joined up with the squad shortly before they flew out from Cape Town, is also set to join the action off the bench. Amongst the backline replacements, Ian van der Merwe (flyhalf) and Jaco Williams (outside back) are in line to make their Junior Bok debuts should they come off the bench. 'Selection is always tough' 'We are extremely excited about starting the World Championship in Italy,' said Foote. 'It's a great country and you can feel the energy within the group. The players have prepared well, they've got clarity, and they are just such a great group together.' Talking about his team for the match, Foote said: 'Selection is always tough and leaving some guys out is hard, but we've gone with a team that has played a lot together now, has a lot of synergy and understanding of our game, and knows how to connect on the field. 'We are very excited about the team that we have selected, with Riley Norton captaining the side, and he will be assisted by Haashim Pead, JJ Theron and Siphosethu Mnebelele.' The tournament consists of three pools, each with four teams. After the three pool matches, the three pool winners and the best runner-up out of the three pools will progress to the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals will contest the final, while the losers of those semi-finals will play for third place, with the others vying for positional places. Junior Springbok team to face Australia: Gilermo Mentoe, Cheswill Jooste, Demitre Erasmus, Albie Bester, Siyabonga Ndlozi, Vusi Moyo, Haashim Pead, Wandile Mlaba, Bathobele Hlekani, Xola Nyali, JJ Theron, Riley Norton (capt), Herman Lubbe, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Simphiwe Ngobese. Bench: Jaundre Schoeman, Oliver Reid, Jean Erasmus, Jaco Grobbelaar, Matt Romao, Erich Visser, Ian van der Merwe, Jaco Williams
The Citizen
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Riley Norton to lead Junior Boks at U20 Championship: Full squad
The team will face Australia, England and Scotland in pool play during the tournament in Italy, starting at the end of June. Junior Boks captain Riley Norton (lock), coach Kevin Foote, and loose forward Wandile Mlaba will be key figures for the SA U20 side at the World Rugby U20 Championship taking place in Italy from later this month. Picture: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images Lock Riley Norton has been retained as the Junior Springboks' captain for the World Rugby U20 Championship that will take place in Italy from June 29 to July 19. Norton also captained the team during the recent U20 Rugby Championship tournament, in South Africa, which also featured the junior sides of New Zealand, Australia and Argentina. Five players will feature at the tournament for a second time — lock Jaco Grobbelaar, utility forward Bathobele Hlekani, prop Herman Lubbe, loose forward Wandile Mlaba and scrumhalf Haashim Pead. Phiwayinkosi Kubheka (prop) and Ian van der Merwe (flyhalf) have not played for the SA U20s before, while Grobbelaar, Stephanus Linde (No 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 U18s last year and Van der Merwe in 2023, while Linde toured with the Junior Boks in Georgia earlier this year before he picked up an injury which ruled him out of the Rugby Championship. Grobbelaar and Williams were involved with the United Rugby Championship squads with the Bulls and Sharks, respectively. 'Amazing effort' Furthermore, six players who are still U19 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. 'I want to thank every player who has been part of the various training groups, for their amazing effort. The schools and provincial unions also deserve a huge amount of credit for the way in which they have prepared our players.' The squad will continue with their preparations in Stellenbosch until their departure to Italy on June 24. The Junior Boks open their campaign in Italy on June 29 against Australia in Calvisano, before they take on England on July 4 in Rovigo, and their final pool fixture is on July 9 against Scotland, also in Calvisano. Junior Springbok squad: Props: Jean Erasmus (Bulls), Phiwayinkosi 'Rambo' Kubheka (Sharks), Herman Lubbe (Western Province), Simphiwe Ngobese (Sharks), Oliver Reid (Western Province). Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Bulls), Jaundré Schoeman (Bulls). Locks: Jaco Grobbelaar (Bulls), Riley Norton (capt, Western Province), JJ Theron (Bulls), Morné Venter (Lions). Loose forwards: Thando Biyela (Lions), Bathobele Hlekani (Sharks), Wandile Mlaba (Western Province), Xola Nyali (Western Province), Matt Romao (Sharks), Stephanus Linde (Cheetahs). Scrumhalves: Ceano Everson (Sharks), Haashim Pead (Lions), Erich Visser (Cheetahs). Flyhalves: Vusi Moyo (Sharks), Ian van der Merwe (Bulls). Centres: Albie Bester (Sharks), Gino Cupido (Western Province), Demitre Erasmus (Bulls), Dominic Malgas (Western Province). Outside backs: Cheswill Jooste (Bulls), Gilermo Mentoe (Lions), Siya Ndlozi (Western Province), Jaco Williams (Sharks). South Africa's Pool A fixtures: Sunday, June 29: Junior Boks vs Australia U20 – Stadio San Michele (Calvisano) Friday, July 4: Junior Boks vs England U20 – Stadio Mario Battaglini (Rovigo) Wednesday, July 9: Junior Boks vs Scotland U20 – June Stadio San Michele (Calvisano)
The South African
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Junior Springboks: Team selection, kick-off time
For the opening round of the U20 Rugby Championship, Junior Springboks head coach Kevin Foote has selected an exciting match-23 for the clash with the Pumitas, who gave their SA U20 counterparts a tough time last year in the inaugural tournament staged in Australia. The Junior Bok coach said that the eagerness and competition amongst squad members made selection a tough exercise. 'Our squad selection for this first game was difficult because there are so many talented guys, which speaks volumes about our depth,' said Foote. 'We've decided on a more settled pack – there's only one change in the pack from our last training match against Hamilton's, with our captain Riley Norton coming into the starting lineup after a slight injury.' The Junior Bok starting fifteen includes the likes of Norton, Wandile Mlaba, a member of last year's Junior Bok squad, and the 2024 SA Schools and SA U18 captain Sethu Mnebelele, amongst the forwards. The backs feature exciting players such as Blitzbok Gino Cupido and Cheswill Jooste on the wings and Kyle Smith at flyhalf. Utility forward Batho Hlekani and outside back JC Mars are amongst the replacements who are expected to make an impact off the bench. 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Gino Cupido, 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Matt Romao, 6 Thando Biyela, 5 JJ Theron, 4 Riley Norton (c), 3 Simphiwe Ngobese, 2 Sethu Mnebelele, 1 Oliver Reid. Bench: 16 Juandre Erasmus, 17 Ranon Fouche, 18 JD Erasmus, 19 Morne Visser, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Vusi Moyo, 23 JC Mars. U20 Rugby Championship fixtures (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium): Thursday, 1 May2pm: New Zealand vs Australia 4:10pm: Junior Boks vs Argentina Tuesday, 6 May2pm: New Zealand vs Argentina 4:10pm: Junior Boks vs Australia Sunday, 11 May2pm: Argentina vs Australia 4:10pm: Junior Boks vs New Zealand
