Edinburgh front-row Boan Venter has been called up to the Springboks squad as the world champions’ head coach Rassie Erasmus announced a reduced squad of 45 players for the upcoming mid-year internationals.
Venter, who is 28 years old, has been plying his trade at the Scottish capital club since 2021 after starting his professional career at the Free State Cheetahs in 2019.
Fellow props Gerhard Steenekamp and Ntuthuko Mchunu are amongst six players who were released from Erasmus‘ initial Springboks squad of 55 players due to injury.
That has resulted in Venter being the only new addition to the Boks squad.
Lukhanyo Am (centre), Pieter-Steph du Toit (utility forward), Cameron Hanekom and Juarno Augustus (both number eights) are the other injured players released from the squad.
Meanwhile, Jaden Hendrikse (scrum-half), Jordan Hendrikse (fly-half), Quan Horn (full-back), Renzo du Plessis (back-row), and Ntokozo Makhaza (utility back) – have also returned to their unions.
Most of the squad will gather in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon to continue their preparations for the season, while the Bulls players, who finished as runners-up to Leinster in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship Grand Final, will join their Boks team-mates on Monday evening while the Irish province’s lock RG Snyman set to arrive on Tuesday afternoon.
The Premiership final players – Handre Pollard of Leicester Tigers and Thomas du Toit of Bath – will report for duty this Monday and next Monday (initially for three days) respectively, while Venter will join the Boks on Sunday, June 29.
‘A chance to assess our depth’
“Our first week of training went well, and it offered us a chance to assess our depth and measure the level at which the players are currently, with an eye on the international season,” said Erasmus.
“We also took stock of the injuries and determined in which positions we needed cover, as well as those in which we have sufficient cover.
“There are a number of players out with long-term injuries, while others are set to return from injury in the next few weeks or months, so they will complete their rehabilitation at their clubs and franchises.
“In terms of the other players released, we feel we have good cover in those positions at this stage, but they are all on standby to join us at any time if we need to call on them.”
Erasmus said Venter’s call-up is a deserved one as he has been in fine form for Edinburgh.
“Boan has been consistent for Edinburgh in the Vodacom URC and the EPCR Challenge Cup, and he is familiar with the South African structures after playing for the Toyota Cheetahs and coming through our junior ranks, so we are looking forward to seeing him in action on the field.”
The Boks will meet the Barbarians in their first encounter on South African soil in Cape Town on Saturday, June 28 where they will play for the Qatar Airways Cup.
That fixture will be followed by back-to-back Tests against Italy in Pretoria and Gqeberha on July 5 and 12, before they take on Georgia in Mbombela a week later on July 19.
Springboks squad
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Neethling Fouche (Stormers), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi (both Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Evan Roos (Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Vincent Tshituka (Sharks), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)
Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi (both Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe (both Lions), Damian Willemse (Stormers), Grant Williams (Sharks)
