Van der Merwe to line up for Baabaas against Boks in Bay

Scotland’s SA-born wing Duhan van der Merwe, New Zealand’s TJ Perenara and Australia’s Andrew Kellaway are among the first batch of Barbarians players named to play the Springboks in Gqeberha on June 20.

The composite Barbarians will be facing the world champions in front of an expected capacity 46,000 crowd at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (kickoff 3pm).

The clash is part of a double-header which also features a showdown between an SA A team and Zimbabwe as a curtain-raiser (kickoff noon).

Van der Merwe, a former Junior Springbok wing who has played for Scotland and the British & Irish Lions, will wear a Barbarians jersey for the first time.

He will be joined on the tour to SA by fellow Scotland squad players D’Arcy Rae and Liam McConnell.

There is a palpable sense of excitement among players on the training pitch as the Springboks gear up for their first outing of the season against a star-studded Barbarians outfit in Gqeberha on June 20, coach Rassie Erasmus says. A squad of 51 players, including many uncapped young guns, assembled in Johannesburg on Monday to start preparing for matches against the Barbarians and Zimbabwe in a double header at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. In addition to the initial squad, Phepsi Buthelezi (loose forward) and Carlu Sadie (prop) have been called and will join the camp in the next two days, along with the Stormers players following their return from Ireland, where they played in the URC semifinal over the weekend. The highly rated Buthelezi made his Test debut against Portugal in 2024. The Stormers players arrived in camp on Monday and Buthelezi, who plays for the Sharks, reported for duty that evening. Sadie, a former Junior Springbok who joined the virtual Springbok alignment camps from France, where he plays for European champions Bordeaux Begles, will arrive in Johannesburg on Wednesday. “It’s great to be back on the field and to see familiar and new faces in the squad,” Erasmus said. “The excitement in the group to get the season under way is palpable, and we are looking forward to the week ahead. We are also pleased to welcome Phepsi and Carlu to the squad, and we are confident they will slot in with ease.” There was an emphasis on youth when the Springboks named a 51-man squad, featuring 21 uncapped players, for the Gqeberha double-header. With the Bulls players unavailable for selection after booking their place in the United Rugby Championship final against Leinster, Erasmus selected several junior players in his squad. Among the crop of rising stars is KuGompo City’s Sibabalwe Mahashe, who has impressed while playing for the Lions. The extended group includes SA U-20 players Yaqeen Ahmed (flyhalf/centre), Danie Kruger (prop), Luan Giliomee (utility back), Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), Oliver Reid (prop), and Liam van Wyk (hooker), Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton (loose forward/lock), Siphosethu Mnebelele (hooker), Markus Muller (centre) and Zekhethelo Siyaya (utility back), all of whom were members of the expanded Springbok alignment camp squad. Other uncapped players in the group are Paul de Villiers (flanker), Bathobele Hlekani (utility forward), Hanro Jacobs (prop), Jurenzo Julius (utility back), Imad Khan (scrumhalf), JJ Kotze (hooker), Mahashe (loose forward), Haashim Pead, Nico Steyn (both scrumhalves), Emmanuel Tshituka (flanker) and Jaco Williams (utility back). The Boks’ Japan-based players who have completed their club commitments will join their teammates from the outset of the camp, while the UK-based players will report for duty once their season officially concludes in line with World Rugby’s regulation 9. Erasmus said he is looking forward to seeing how the younger players adapted to the demands of senior international rugby. The Springbok squad for the opening leg of the Nations Championship against England, Scotland and Wales will be announced on June 21. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

All three have been selected in collaboration with Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend to ensure they have game time before they return to SA to face the Boks in the Nations Championship match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on July 11.

Perenara, a former All Blacks vice-captain, will bring 89 Tests worth of experience, flair and attacking instincts to the Barbarians squad.

Wallabies speedster Kellaway, who has 49 caps for Australia, will be joined in the backline by Argentine flyhalf Tomas Albornoz and Uruguay scrumhalf Santiago Arata.

Further squad announcements are expected soon.

“I can’t wait to join up with the Barbarians this summer,” Van der Merwe said.

“It is a massive honour and opportunity to represent them.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to be part of so to get this opportunity is massive.

There was an emphasis on youth when the Springboks named a 51-man squad, featuring 21 uncapped players, for a double-header against the Barbarians, as well as a showdown between an SA A team and Zimbabwe in Gqeberha on June 20. With the Bulls players unavailable for selection after booking their place in the United Rugby Championship final against Leinster, Erasmus selected several junior players in his squad. Among the crop of rising stars is KuGompo City’s Sibabalwe Mahashe, who has impressed while playing for the Lions. The former Hudson Park loose forward will be looking to make the most of any opportunities that come his way during the next two weeks. The extended group includes SA U-20 players Yaqeen Ahmed (flyhalf/centre), Danie Kruger (prop), Luan Giliomee (utility back), Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), Oliver Reid (prop), and Liam van Wyk (hooker), as well as Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton (loose forward/lock), Siphosethu Mnebelele (hooker), Markus Muller (centre), and Zekhethelo Siyaya (utility back), all of whom were members of the expanded Springbok alignment camp squad. The other uncapped players in the group are Paul de Villiers (flanker), Bathobele Hlekani (utility forward), Hanro Jacobs (prop), Jurenzo Julius (utility back), Imad Khan (scrumhalf), JJ Kotze (hooker), Mahashe (loose forward), Haashim Pead, Nico Steyn (both scrumhalves), Emmanuel Tshituka (flanker), and Jaco Williams (utility back). The Boks’ Japanese-based players who have completed their club commitments will join their teammates from the outset of the camp, while the UK-based players will report for duty once their season officially concludes in line with World Rugby’s regulation 9. The Springbok squad for the Nations Championship clashes against England (July 4), Scotland (July 11), and Wales (July 18) will be announced on June 21 after the conclusion of the United Rugby Championship. Erasmus said he was looking forward to seeing how the younger players adapted to the demands of senior international rugby. “We named a large group of players, as we will be selecting a Springbok and SA A team for the season-opening double-header in Gqeberha, and this will be beneficial in the long-term as we build the squad, looking forward to next year’s Rugby World Cup and beyond,” he said. “There is also an exciting mix of experienced campaigners and young players in this squad, and this formula has worked well for us in the past to ensure a clear pathway to build depth within the group. “The coaches have been working around the clock to put the systems in place in the past few months, and the in-person and virtual alignment camps have given most of the players a taste of what to expect, so it’s now a matter of implementing what they learnt in the boardroom onto the field. “We are under no illusions about the challenge ahead this season with two matches against the Barbarians and the SA A team against Zimbabwe playing out on the same day, which will be followed by two new competitions in the Nations Championship and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. “So it will be important for the group to build cohesion as quickly as possible and make the most of our field sessions and team meetings to be as well prepared as possible when we take the field.” Springbok squad: Forwards: Lood de Jager, Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Neethling Fouche, Bathobele Hlekani, Hanro Jacobs, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, JJ Kotze, Danie Kruger, Sibabalwe Mahashe, Malcolm Marx, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Salmaan Moerat, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Riley Norton, Zachary Porthen, Oliver Reid, Evan Roos, Emmanuel Tshituka, Vincent Tshituka, Liam van Wyk, Andre-Hugo Venter, Boan Venter, Jasper Wiese. Backs: Yaqeen Ahmed, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Luan Giliomee, Quan Horn, Jurenzo Julius, Imad Khan, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Manie Libbok, Vusi Moyo, Markus Muller, Haashim Pead, Zekhethelo Siyaya, Nico Steyn, Edwill van der Merwe, Damian Willemse, Grant Williams, Jaco Williams. - Additional reporting SA Rugby Communications Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

“The Barbarians are a rugby institution, and we have some tough Tests coming.

“To play for them against the world champions will be a massive challenge and one I’m really looking forward to.”

Any perceptions that the international season opener might be a low-key affair were kicked into touch when joint coach Felipe Contepomi said the Baabaas wanted to erase memories of the 2025 clash between the teams when the Boks ran out runaway 54-7 winners in Cape Town.

Contepomi, who is coaching alongside Scott Robertson, Patrice Collazo and Kenny Lynn, said the Baabaas wanted to be much more competitive in Gqeberha than had been the case in Cape Town.

“To hear that Bok coach Rassie Erasmus is taking it as seriously as a Test match is the best way for us to prepare,” he said.

“Facing South Africa is a big, big challenge, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

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