Junior Boks look set to shine on the world stage

Junior Springboks prepare to defend their title as Junior World Championship kicks off in Georgia on 27 June. Image: Junior Springboks

As if we weren’t spoiled enough with the young talent on display in the two games against the Sables and Barbarians last weekend, this Saturday (27 June) sees the World Rugby Junior World Championship kick off in Georgia. The Junior Boks are the reigning champions, and will be seeing this year’s contest as an exciting challenge, and the opportunity to potentially go back-to-back.

The youngsters are coming off an incredible run of form. In May, they secured their first ever U20 Rugby Championship title, winning comprehensively against Argentina (48-21) and Australia (56-17), before clinching the title with a 29-29 draw against New Zealand. Later the same month, they won all three games of a series of internationals, beating Chile 97-0, Fiji 82-25, and Georgia 57-14. Kevin Foote and the rest of the coaching staff, along with the team, will rightly be feeling pleased with their preparations in the build up to this tournament.

Of course, those preparations have not been without disruptions. The electric Zekethelo Siyaya sustained a truly unfortunate concussion and facial fracture during the SA ‘A’ game against the Sables, and has been ruled out for the duration of the competition as a result. Yaqeen Ahmed, who was sensational against the Sables as well, has been banned for two matches after a red card in that game, and so will miss out on much of the pool stages of the tournament. And Vusi Moyo and Riley Norton, the Junior Boks’ usual captain, have been called up to the senior squad for the upcoming Nations Championship games against England, Scotland, and Wales. An incredible achievement for them, though it feels a little bittersweet that it means missing out on the Junior World Champs. It also means Kevin Foote has had to name a new captain for the team – I am confident that the talented young hooker, Siphosethu Mnebelele, who has been named as squad captain, will do a phenomenal job, as will Rambo Kubheka, who leads the side for the opening game. Still, it is a touch disruptive at this late stage.

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Despite these disruptions, it is a squad crammed to the brim with impressive talent, and we are in for an absolute treat on Saturday when the tournament begins. The Junior Boks are in Pool A with Wales, Uruguay, and the hosts, Georgia. We face Uruguay first, at 18:30 on 27 June, followed by Georgia at 18:30 on Thursday, 2 July, and finally Wales, at 16:00 on Tuesday, 7 July (all times are SAST). Mind you, the young Georgians just beat the Junior All Blacks 22-19 in a friendly warm up match, so that second pool game should be particularly exciting. Although the Junior Boks have been bronze medallists nine times and taken silver once since the tournament’s inception in 2008, they have only won it twice - once in 2012, and, of course, last year. They’ll definitely be looking to build on all their hard work this year, and a very strong run of results, to secure a third title on 18 July. And perhaps emulate the senior squad in going back-to-back.

Junior Bok team to face Uruguay on 27 June:

1 Rambo Kubheka (captain)

2 Liam van Wyk

3 Luan van der Berg

4 Jaythen Orange

5 JD Hattingh

6 Risima Khosa

7 Gert Kemp

8 Vuyo Gwiji

9 Hendré Schoeman

10 Alzeadon Felix

11 Jordan Steenkamp

12 Ethan Adams

13 Markus Muller

14 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga

15 Luan Giliomee

Replacements:

16 Siphosetho Mnebelele

17 Jordan Jooste

18 Danie Kruger

19 Thomas Beling

20 Wasi Vyambwera

21 Jayden Brits

22 Akahluwa Boqwana

23 Cheswill Jooste

Junior Boks’ 2026 Junior World Championship squad:

Props: Oliver Reid (DHL Stormers), Rambo Kubheka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jordan Jooste (DHL Stormers), Danie Kruger (DHL Stormers), Luan van der Berg (Vodacom Bulls).

Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks), Liam van Wyk (Hollywoodbets Sharks).

Locks: Heinrich Theron (Vodacom Bulls), Jaythen Orange (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), JD Hattingh (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).

Loose forwards: Kebotile Maake (Vodacom Bulls), Risima Khosa (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Luke Cannon (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Wasi Vyambwera (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vuyo Gwiji (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Gert Kemp (DHL Stormers).

Utility forward: Thomas Beling (Vodacom Bulls).

Scrumhalves: Hendré Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls), Jayden Brits (DHL Stormers).

Flyhalf: Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL Stormers).

Centres: Ethan Adams (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Samuel Badenhorst (DHL Stormers), Markus Muller (DHL Stormers).

Outside and utility backs: Luan Giliomee (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheswill Jooste (Vodacom Bulls), Jack Benade (DHL Stormers), Jordan Steenkamp (DHL Stormers), Akahluwa Boqwana (Vodacom Bulls), Alzeadon Felix (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).