Six uncapped players named in Springboks’ Test squad
Rassie Erasmus has unveiled the Springboks' 46-man squad for the inaugural Nations Championship that starts next month.
Black News 
After claiming a big over the Barbarians as expected, the Springboks now head full steam into the 2026 Test season, which kicks off against England in Johannesburg on Saturday, 4 July.
Late on Saturday night Rassie Erasmus named a Test squad that includes 28 forwards and 18 backline players. Paul de Villiers (flanker), Riley Norton (lock/loose forward), Ruben van Heerden (lock) and Carlu Sadie (prop) are the four uncapped forwards, while Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), and Jaco Williams (wing) are the two new backs in a largely experienced squad.
Scrumhalf Herchel Jantjies, who was a member of the 2019 Springbok Rugby World Cup-winning squad, also makes a notable return for the first time since his last appearance in the green and gold in August 2023 against Argentina.
As many as 12 Bulls players, who were unavailable for selection for the Springboks’ 80-31 win over the Barbarians and the SA ‘A’ team’s 40-0 victory over Zimbabwe in Gqeberha earlier on Saturday, were included.
They are Johan Grobbelaar (hooker), Wilco Louw, Gerhard Steenekamp (both props), Ruan Nortje (lock), Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (utility forwards), Cameron Hanekom (No 8), Embrose Papier (scrumhalf), Handre Pollard (flyhalf), Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing), and Canan Moodie (utility back).
Papier, who was named the SA URC player of the Season, played the last of his seven Test matches in 2018, making this his first appearance in the Springbok squad in eight years.
Thomas du Toit (prop) also returns to the squad after completing his season with English club Bath.
Springbok squad for the Nations Championship:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Ntuthuko Mchunu (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Carlu Sadie (Bordeaux Begles), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh).
Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers).
Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Ruben van Heerden (DHL Stormers).
Loose forwards: Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon (both DHL Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Utility forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Riley Norton (DHL Stormers), Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Vodacom Bulls).
Scrumhalves: Embrose Papier (Vodacom Bulls), Herschel Jantjies (Bayonne), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls).
Centres: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside and utility backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Edwill van der Merwe, Jaco Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
Test match rugby on the horizon
The squad will depart for Johannesburg on Sunday morning to resume their training camp, with the Junior Springbok players set to join their team-mates for their preparations for the showpiece in Georgia, while the other players will return to their respective provincial unions.
The match against England will be followed by clashes against Scotland in Pretoria (11 July) and Wales in Durban (18 July) before the Boks travel to Buenos Aires to play a one-off Test against Los Pumas (8 August).
