Junior Bok star headlines SA Academy squad
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Divan Fuller will be one of 48 players who are set to attend the first SA U20 Academy camp of 2025, which will also kick-start the Junior Springboks' preparations this season.
Fuller, who made his senior debut for Western Province in the 2024 Currie Cup season, featured prominently in the back row for the Junior Boks in the U20 Rugby Championship and World Rugby U20 Championship last year.
The national team age-group season will kick off in earnest with the large contingent of players invited to the Academy camp, which will be held at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport from 26 January to 16 February.
The assembly follows two successful U19 camps held at the same venue at the end of last year. Head coach Kevin Foote and his staff worked with 48 players in November and December, with the camps laying the foundation for the identification of the next generation of Junior Springboks.
A series of training matches, including two against local university opposition, are in the pipeline to assist the U20 Academy group in their preparations. The Junior Boks will be selected from the wider Academy squad.
South Africa is set to compete in the second instalment of the SANZAAR-organised U20 Rugby Championships in May, as well as the World Rugby U20 Championship in June and July.
A short trip to Georgia, as part of the buildup towards the two international events, is also in the pipeline for next month and will be confirmed once all arrangements have been finalised.
"Last year's two camps were very useful and productive, and we focussed a lot on putting the fundamentals in place of what we expect from the players," said Foote.
"We are excited to get the group together again and looking forward to the camp. This will also give us an opportunity to work with players who were not present during the two training camps held late last year."
Foote added that its very much early days and that passage to the World Rugby U20 Championship, to be staged in the middle of the year, is not closed to players who have, up to now, not formed part of the training squads.
"It's an exciting time for players, and they know that a huge amount of preparation work lies ahead for what promises to be a busy season for us," he said.
"We will be targeting the set-piece and our kicking game in the first block, which is the DNA of South African rugby."
U20 Academy squad:
Props: Ranon Fouché (Vodacom Bulls), Jean Erasmus (Bulls), Simphiwe Ngobese (Sharks), Herman Lubbe (WP), Oliver Reid (WP), Tebogo Nkosi (Cheetahs), Ulrich van der Merwe (Lions).
Hookers: Juandré Schoeman (Bulls), HB Odendaal (Lions), Siphosethu Mnebelele (Bulls).
Locks: Heinrich Theron (Bulls), Kuhle Mthimkhulu (Sharks), Morne Venter (Lions), Riley Norton (WP), Arno van der Merwe (Cheetahs), James Schnetler (Bulls), Johan Hattingh (Lions).
Loose forwards: JJ Theron (Bulls), Bathobele Hlekani (Sharks), Yabo Ndzamela (Sharks), Thando Biyela (Lions), Divan Fuller (WP), Xola Nyali (WP), Stephanus Linde (Cheetahs), Wandile Mlaba (WP).
Scrumhalves: Zeke January (Bulls), Ceano Everson (Sharks), Haashim Pead (Lions).
Flyhalves: Matthew Coetzee (Lions), Yaqeen Ahmed (WP), Kyle Smith (WP), JT Kapank (Bulls).
Centres: Pieter van der Merwe (Bulls), Albie Bester (Sharks).
Outside backs: Cheswill Jooste (Bulls), Chijindu Okonta (Sharks), Scott Nel (Sharks), Jaco Williams (Sharks), Gilermo Mentoe (Lions), Siya Ndlozi (WP).
Utility back: Dominic Malgas (WP).
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
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