New Zealand have named a powerful squad of 30 players to defend their Sanzaar U20 Rugby Championship title in Gqeberha from April 27 to May 9.
The Baby Blacks held on to beat the Junior Springboks 48-45 in front of 14,835 spectators at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha to retain their title in dramatic fashion in 2025.
Having to play with 13 players in the final minutes, NZ overturned a fast Junior Springbok start to the match, which saw the home side scoring 19 unanswered points in the opening 15 minutes to pave the way for 26-24 at the break.
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) national pathways head coach Kane Jury said the selected players had earned their places through their efforts during the recent U20 development programme in Taupo.
No stone will be left unturned to ensure the Junior Boks’ preparations for the Sanzaar U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha from April 27 to May 9 are spot on, says assistant coach Lumumba Currie.
The tournament will feature the best young talent from SA, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, with big crowds expected to attend matches played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on three match days (April 27 and May 3 and 9).
The Junior Boks took another significant step towards the Rugby Championship when they engaged in a high-intensity training session against the Boland Cavaliers in hot and humid conditions in Wellington last week.
A gruelling session against the seasoned Cavaliers provided a stark contrast to the Junior Boks’ previous training and international outings thus far.
Facing a side bolstered by Currie Cup, SA Cup and United Rugby Championship campaigners, the SA U20s were forced to adapt to a significantly higher physical and tactical threshold, in testing conditions.
“We want to leave for Gqeberha with the confidence that we have ticked the boxes we set for ourselves,” Currie said. “We will leave no stone unturned. This training block leading up to the Rugby Championship is vital.
The value for our guys is that there is no room for error. You must learn quickly because we are heading into our Test match season now
“The Junior Boks went up against men in the Boland side who are household provincial names. The value for our guys is that there is no room for error. You must learn quickly because we are heading into our Test match season now.”
Currie said the transition from Varsity Cup intensity — following recent sessions against Maties and Ikeys — to training with a battle-hardened Carling Currie Cup Premier Division playoff contender like Boland provided the “tough hit-out” the group required.
Underlining the leap in physicality, the Junior Bok assistant coach said testing themselves against a seasoned provincial unit was essential for exposing the squad to the demands of what can expect at international level.
Boland used the exercise as part of their preparations for important SA Cup clashes that lie ahead.
“We’ve brought in a number of youngsters to try and build depth going forward,” Currie said.
The current squad of 43 players will be trimmed down to 31 towards the end of next week before the Junior Boks head for the Eastern Cape for the Rugby Championship.
The event in Gqeberha will be the third edition of Sanzaar U20 tournament, and the second in a row to be staged at the Nelson Mandela Stadium.
Last year’s event was a massive success, and we are thrilled that this tournament will be returning to Gqeberha
The Junior Boks will kick off their bid for glory a with an opening match against Argentina on April 27.
The SA vs Argentina game (4.10pm kickoff) is the late game in a double header, which also features an opening clash between New Zealand and Australia at 2pm on Freedom Day.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said it was a feather in the cap of SA Rugby and the Eastern Cape to host the third instalment of this tournament for a second time. “Last year’s event was a massive success, and we are thrilled that this tournament will be returning to Gqeberha,” he said.
Tickets for the U20 Rugby Championship will be priced from R35 per person per day for two matches, and will be sold exclusively by Ticketmaster.
Fixtures
April 27:
2pm: New Zealand v Australia;
4.10pm: Junior Boks v Argentina.
May 3:
2pm: New Zealand v Argentina;
4.10pm: Junior Boks v Australia.
May 9:
2pm: Argentina v Australia;
4.10pm: Junior Boks v New Zealand.
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“The programme was a standout success, both on and off the field,” he said. “One hundred of our most promising players arrived eager to learn, compete, and showcase their talent, and they delivered in spades.
“As we head into the Rugby Championship, there’s genuine excitement about this group around who they are, who they can become, and how we can contribute to the legacy of this team.”
The squad was selected by Jury and his assistant coaches Brock James, James Lentjes and Will Henry, with NZR high-performance talent identification manager PJ Williams providing detailed insights and data during the selection process.
One additional player will be added to the squad before they fly out to SA on April 20, while nine non-travelling reserves will attend a pre-departure camp at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation & Sport in Wellington from April 12 to 19, which will include a warm-up match against the Hurricanes Hunters development team.
The wheels were set in motion for the Sanzaar U20 Rugby Championship tournament in Gqeberha from April 27 to May 9 when Junior Bok coach Kevin Foote named a training squad on Thursday.
The event will feature the best young talent from SA, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina, with big crowds expected to attend matches played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on three match days (April 27 and May 3 and 9).
The squad will gather for a two-week camp in Stellenbosch from April 6 to 19 to prepare for the Gqeberha tournament.
Sharks utility back Luan Giliomee, who recently made his international debut for the Blitzboks, has been named as a utility player.
Bulls wing Cheswill Jooste, who, like Vusi Moyo, was also a member of last year’s successful Junior Bok side, was not considered for this training camp due to his URC commitments.
Alongside their daily field and gym sessions in Stellenbosch, the Junior Boks will take part in two training chukkas against the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington, with a similar training drill planned against EP.
Foote described the naming of the extended squad as another key step in the team’s build‑up, and said the recent tour to Georgia had been a critical part of their preparation.
“Georgia gave us a great opportunity to play and grow together as a team and to test our set pieces against a formidable pack,” he said.
“Our experience in Gqeberha in 2025 was that the surface can be soft underfoot, which led to several players cramping.
“So, we want to ensure our fitness levels match how we intend to play, especially against teams who favour a fast‑paced game.”
Junior Springbok training squad:
Props: Oliver Reid (Stormers), Rambo Kubheka (Sharks), Jordan Jooste (Stormers), Cecil Parson (Lions); Danie Kruger (Stormers), Kai Pratt (Sharks), Luan van der Berg (Bulls), Bongani Dlamini (Bulls)
Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Bulls), Liam van Wyk (Sharks), Mahle Sithole (Lions), Altus Rabe (Stormers)
Locks: Heinrich Theron (Bulls), Riley Norton (Stormers), JD Hattingh (Lions), AJ Meyer (Stormers), Tom Barnard (Stormers)
Loose forwards: Kebotile Maake (Bulls), Risima Khosa (Lions), Luann Olivier (Sharks), Luke Canon (Lions), Thomas Beling (Bulls), Wasi Vyambwera (Sharks), Sibusiso Mahlangu (Cheetahs), Bohlale Maphisa (Cheetahs), Gert Kemp (Stormers)
Scrumhalves: Hendré Schoeman (Bulls), Jayden Brits (Stormers), Jandrian Goosen (Bulls)
Flyhalves: Yaqeen Ahmed (Stormers), Vusi Moyo (Sharks), Alzeadon Felix (Sharks)
Centres: Ethan Adams (Lions), Christian Vorster (Bulls), Winton Abrahams (CUT), Samuel Badenhorst (Stormers), Markus Muller (Stormers)
Outside backs: Dylan Miller (Stormers), Junaide Stuart (Bulls), Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (Sharks), Lindsey Jansen (Bulls), Jack Benade (Stormers), Zekhethelo Siyaya (Sharks), Jade Muller (Cheetahs)
Utility player: Luan Giliomee (Sharks)
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The first edition of the U20 Rugby Championship was held in Australia in 2024, with the up-and-coming stars of Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and SA doing battle.
In 2025 the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape played host to the six matches, with New Zealand successfully defending their title.
New Zealand U20 squad
- Hookers: Josh Findlay (Crusaders, Canterbury), Luka Patumaka Makata (Blues, Auckland), Jericho Wharehinga (Hurricanes, Hawke’s Bay)
- Props: Alexander Hewitt (Hurricanes, Wellington), Dane Johnston (Chiefs, Taranaki), Henry Stuart (Highlanders, Otago), Ethan Webber (Highlanders, Otago)
- Locks: Jake Frost (Crusaders, Canterbury), John Falloon (Hurricanes, Wellington), Max Fale (Crusaders, Canterbury)
- Loose forwards: Alex Arnold (Highlanders, Otago), Kobe Brownlee (Crusaders, Tasman), Micah Fale (Chiefs, Waikato), Patrick Mauga (Hurricanes, Hawke’s Bay), Finn McLeod (Crusaders, Canterbury), Logan Platt (Blues, Auckland), Caleb Woodley (Blues, Auckland)
- Scrumhalves: Jackson Hughan (Highlanders, Southland), Boston Krone (Blues, Auckland), Charlie Sinton (Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)
- Flyhalves: Cohen Norrie (Blues, Auckland), Mika Muliaina (Highlanders, Southland)
- Midfielders: David Lewai (Chiefs, Waikato), Siale Pahulu (Blues, Auckland), Angus Revell (Blues, Auckland), Haki Wiseman (Chiefs, Taranaki)
- Outside backs: Oliver Guerin (Chiefs, Waikato), Jay Reihana (Highlanders, Southland), JD Van Der Westhuizen (Blues, North Harbour), Logan Williams (Crusaders, Canterbury)
Meanwhile, Junior Bok coach Kevin Foote has named a training squad that is busy preparing for the Gqeberha tournament at a two-week camp in Stellenbosch.
Sharks utility back Luan Giliomee, who recently made his international debut for the Blitzboks, has been named as a utility player.
Bulls wing Cheswill Jooste, who, like Vusi Moyo, was also a member of last year’s successful Junior Bok side, was not considered for this training camp due to his URC commitments.
Fixtures
April 27:
- 2pm: New Zealand v Australia;
- 4.10pm: Junior Boks v Argentina.
May 3:
- 2pm: New Zealand v Argentina;
- 4.10pm: Junior Boks v Australia.
May 9:
- 2pm: Argentina v Australia;
- 4.10pm: Junior Boks v New Zealand.
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