The Springboks wrapped up a two-week conditioning camp, but it wasn’t just the usual suspects hammering through drills and scrums. Among the grizzled green-and-gold warriors stood three fresh-faced Junior Boks, their dreams stitched into every lineout and lung-bursting sprint.
Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead — three newly crowned U20 world champions — were drafted into the Bok camp like rookies called up to test their mettle. And they didn’t just survive. They showed the spark of future fire-starters.
“It was fantastic to have Bathobele, Cheswill, and Haashim with us,” said Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, his keen eye forever scanning the horizon for the next line-breaker or breakdown beast.
“It was impressive to see their enthusiasm and the way they grabbed the opportunity with both hands on and off the field.”
The trio weren’t expected to decode the Bok playbook in one sitting — this wasn’t about mastering the lineout codes or counter-attack patterns. It was about feeling the pulse of Springbok rugby, about seeing up close what it takes to carry the hopes of a nation stitched into your jersey.
“We made it clear there was no pressure on them to grasp all our structures and systems,” Erasmus added.
“It was rather an opportunity for them to experience how we operate… and they certainly embraced it.”
And embrace it they did — like flankers pouncing on a loose ball.
Rassie Erasmus on the three #JuniorBoks that trained with the #Springboks: “It was impressive to see their enthusiasm and the way they grabbed the opportunity with both hands” 💚💛#ForeverGreenForeverGold
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 7, 2025
For Cheswill Jooste, the youngest of the group who was still wearing the SA U18 jersey just last year, the experience left an indelible mark:
“As a Junior Bok, it was a privilege to be among the best, and although it was tough, I learned a lot. I walk away with new insights, more confidence and an even greater hunger to grow.”
He spoke with wide-eyed reverence about training alongside his heroes.
“They didn’t only share their knowledge, but also their energy and spirit of unity… This is just the beginning.”
For Haashim Pead — a try-scoring machine during the U20 World Championship — the last two weeks were nothing short of “amazing.”
“The experience I gained will truly go a long way. I believe I have grown… and with these high standards, it definitely motivated me to give my absolute best so that I can reach the level they are at.”
Pead’s words echoed with purpose — a player aware that the margin between promise and permanence is defined by grind.
Hlekani, a powerful forward with a relentless engine, relished the uncompromising tempo of Bok training.
“The intensity of the training sessions was very high, which was great for us. I’ll definitely take what I learned and use it to improve my game… I’m going to keep pushing, stay hungry, and hopefully one day I’ll be part of this squad.”
Erasmus, no stranger to the alchemy of transformation, saw more than just raw talent in the trio.
“They all have bright futures, and we hope the experience and lessons will set them in good stead as they strive to reach this level in the coming years.”
For now, the Boks break briefly from the grind — a final breath before the war drums sound. On Sunday, the squad regathers in Johannesburg to prepare for a Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign that begins with a fierce opening clash against the Wallabies on August 16.
The road ahead is a gauntlet: back-to-back tests against the Australians in Johannesburg and Cape Town, then a brutal New Zealand double-header in Auckland and Wellington. The campaign wraps with Tests against Argentina in Durban and London.
But beyond the immediate storm lies a quiet story — of three young men who stepped into the inner sanctum, felt the heat of the Bok furnace, and emerged hungrier, wiser, and emboldened. They are not yet the finished article — but the raw ore has been touched by fire.
And somewhere down the line, in a test that matters, with a title on the line, one of these names may be called again — no longer as guests, but as full-blooded Springboks ready to write the next chapter.
