Springboks: 11 World Cup winners OUT of Rugby Champs squad
07/23/2024 04:23 AM
The Springboks’ Rugby Championship squad was unveiled on Tuesday, with 22 out of the 33 players being Rugby World Cup winners.
However, there were also a host of players not available for a variety of reasons, which notably includes Faf de Klerk (undisclosed injury).
Springboks’ 2019/2023 World Cup winners not available:
- Jean Kleyn (injury)
- Lood de Jager (injury)
- Franco Mostert (injury)
- Steven Kitshoff (injury)
- Faf de Klerk (injury)
- Jaden Hendrikse (injury)
- Herschel Jantjies (injury)
- Canan Moodie (injury)
- Damian Willemse (injury)
- Jasper Wiese (suspended)
- Andre Esterhuizen (awaiting disciplinary hearing)
Meanwhile, Edwill van der Merwe (wing) was also ruled out with injury.
Challenging season ahead
Rassie Erasmus said he expected a challenging Rugby Championship and said: "We faced New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final and won by a point, and we all know how tough the competition and rivalry is between the teams.
"Australia are also a quality team, and we've seen historically that are a force to be reckoned at home, while Argentina are a physical and competitive team and always push us to the limit, so we are under no illusions about what lies ahead.
"But we're also excited to launch this new edition of the tournament and test ourselves against the southern hemisphere sides once again."
Squad for the Rugby Championship (in alphabetical order):
Forwards: Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).
Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
