Rassie Erasmus has invited 20 overseas-based players to take part in a virtual alignment camp next month where he will set out his goals for the 2025 Springboks. The South African boss last week confirmed a squad of 56 to attend an in-person camp in Cape Town in early March and he has now confirmed the names of those who will log on for a separate online gathering.
The virtual session aimed at touching base with the likes the Japan-based Pieter-Steph du Toit and the England-based Handre Pollard will also accommodate six South African-based players.
It includes a first squad call-up for Jonathan Roche, the uncapped Stormers centre who has made six appearances so far in his breakthrough season for John Dobson’s URC side.
A statement read: “Rassie Erasmus has invited a group of 26 players to the first virtual Springboks alignment camps of the year on Wednesday, March 27, following the first in-person camp in Cape Town from Monday, March 10, to Wednesday, March 12.
“Along with his assistant coaches and management team, Erasmus will host two virtual sessions on the day – one with the Japanese-based players and the other with the players playing in the northern hemisphere and domestically – to accommodate their respective time zones. In addition to this group, 56 players have been invited to the Cape Town camp.
“A total of 18 Rugby World Cup winners have been included in the virtual alignment camp group, with another four capped Springboks also involved. The only new player in this group is Jonathan Roche, who earns his first invitation to a Bok alignment camp, with the other five locally-based players having either worn the Springbok jersey or been invited to an alignment camp before.
“Options are being investigated for a match prior to the Castle Lager Incoming Series when the Boks take on Italy in back-to-back Tests on July 5 and 12 followed by a clash against Georgia on July 19.
“The Boks will then defend their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title against Australia, New Zealand and Argentina between August and October before the traditional Castle Lager Outgoing Tour in November.”
Erasmus said: “It is vital for us that all the players on our radar are exposed to our plans and goals for the season, so we intend to replicate our presentations to the group in Cape Town with these players, so everyone is on the same page as we embark on this challenging season.
“With a wide group of players invited to the respective alignment camps, we are excited to grow our player base and expose all these individuals to the national structures, as well as to explain what our expectations are of them for the forthcoming season.
“Many of these players have won a World Cup before, but we made it clear before the 2023 showpiece in France that we have to continue adapting and improving to remain at the top of our game – not only this season but also as we build toward the 2027 World Cup in Australia
Virtual Springboks alignment camp squad
Kurt-Lee Arendse (Dynaboars)
Damian de Allende, Lood de Jager (both Wild Knights)
Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel (both Canon Eagles)
Dan du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez (both Sale Sharks)
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz)
Thomas du Toit (Bath)
Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Cobus Reinach (both Montpellier)
Herschel Jantjies, Jonathan Roche (both DHL Stormers)
Jean Kleyn (Munster)
Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath)
Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls)
Trevor Nyakane, Siya Masuku (both Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears)
Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)
Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers)
Kwagga Smith (Blue Revs)
RG Snyman (Leinster)
Nico Steyn (Emirates Lions)
Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets)
Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)
