Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has never been one to stare only in the rearview mirror. In a sport often ruled by conservatism and caps, Erasmus continues to show why he’s the game’s master gardener—nurturing green shoots even while the old trees still bear fruit.
In a bold and symbolic move, Erasmus has opened the Springbok gates to three of the brightest young stars in the country: big ball-carrying Makhanda loose forward Bathobele Hlekani, jet-heeled Saldanha winger Cheswill Jooste, and the supremely talented Bo-Kaap scrumhalf Haashim Pead.
Bathobele Hlekani Photo: Instagram
Fresh from hoisting the World Rugby U20 Championship trophy, the trio won’t be in the matchday mix just yet—but they’ll be thrown into the fire of a two-week senior camp.
It’s more than a taste—it’s an immersion into the deep, uncompromising world of Bok rugby, where every breakdown is a battlefield and every pass is a promise.
“We are tremendously proud of the Junior Springboks for winning the World Rugby U20 Championship,” Erasmus said.
“We were thrilled to see the talent coming through the junior ranks, so we opted to invite three of them to expose them to our structures and the standards required at top international level.”
For Hlekani, whose physicality and presence over the ball belies his age, it’s a chance to test his power against world-class forwards.
Cheswill Jooste Pic: Instagram
For Jooste, who leaves defenders grasping at shadows with his electric pace, it’s a glimpse at the space and structure of the elite level.
And for Pead—already showing the composure and game management of a veteran—it’s a golden ticket into the Springbok braintrust.
“We believe this camp will benefit them significantly, and we are excited to see how they slot in and train with us,” Erasmus added.
There may be no caps up for grabs—yet—but there’s no mistaking the significance. Rassie isn’t just rewarding excellence—he’s building the next Bok spine.
https://t.co/hjXC5UGFDm pic.twitter.com/v76zdXWmuj
— Adnaan Mohamed (@Adnaan1111) July 23, 2025
And in a squad full of World Cup winners and seasoned warriors, the inclusion of Hlekani, Jooste, and Pead is a clear message: the Springbok conveyor belt is still humming, and the future is already knocking.
Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship Tests against Australia:
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls).
Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
