Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has turned the spotlight onto two of South African rugby’s brightest young talents, handing Sibabalwe Mahashe and Zekhethelo Siyaya their first invitations to the national alignment camp in Cape Town next week.
Mahashe and Siyaya have forced their way into the national conversation through relentless performances this season, earning recognition in Erasmus’ purpose-driven 40-man squad.
The inclusion of the dynamic duo signals the Springboks’ determination to keep their conveyor belt of talent thundering forward as the world champions build toward the next two seasons and beyond, while familiar faces Embrose Papier, Francke Horn, Andre-Hugo Venter and Henco van Wyk return to the national frame.
Rassie Erasmus has invited two exciting youngsters amongst a group of new players to the next #Springboks alignment camp – more here: https://t.co/HLz2kCyLY5 🤝#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/FWpXjPP2bu
— Springboks (@Springboks) May 13, 2026
Mahashe, who has grown into a powerful presence for the Fidelity Securedrive Lions pack, joins a group of emerging forwards eager to leave fresh bootprints in the Bok environment. Siyaya, meanwhile, has crackled with pace and attacking spark for the Hollywoodbets Sharks, catching the eye like a fullback or flyhalf finding daylight on a broken defensive line.
Erasmus believes the camp will give the youngsters an opportunity to absorb the demands of the international game while bedding into the structures that have made the Springboks rugby’s heavyweight force.
“This is an exciting group of players, and it’s been pleasing to see them make their presence felt in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and during their teams’ Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup campaigns this season,” said Erasmus.
“This camp will be a good opportunity to expose those invited to our setup and the standards expected of the national coaches.
“We’re looking forward to involving Sibabalwe, Zekhethelo, Andre, Embrose, Francke, and Henco at this camp as we continue to build our squad depth.”
The camp, running from 19 to 21 May, includes 10 uncapped players and comes at a time when injuries have sidelined several established internationals. Erasmus made it clear the gathering is about building long-term depth rather than short-term fixes.
“It’s important to be clear about the objective of this alignment camp, and that is to expose these players to our environment, our standards, and the way we operate,” he explained.
“This week will give us the chance to align those who are fit and firing now with the way we want to operate, so that when an opportunity arises either this year or further down the line, they are ready to step up and deliver at international level.”
Mahashe and Siyaya now enter the Springbok system carrying the hopes of a new generation, stepping into a camp where every drill, every collision and every meeting is designed to sharpen players into Test-match steel.
Squads
Forwards:
Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Neethling Fouche, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Salmaan Moerat, Riley Norton, Zachary Porthen, Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter, Bathobele Hlekani, Francke Horn, Sibabalwe Mahashe, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Johan Grobbelaar, Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese, Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche, Emmanuel Tshituka.
Backs:
Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Embrose Papier, Handre Pollard, Andre Esterhuizen, Zekhethelo Siyaya, Edwill van der Merwe, Grant Williams, Jaco Williams, Quan Horn, Haashim Pead, Henco van Wyk, Morne van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse.
