Springboks news: Rassie Erasmus charges into the 2025 Test season with bold 54-man squad

On Thursday, June 5, Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus named his first official Test squad consisting of 54 players for the season-opening clashes against the Barbarians, Italy, and Georgia.

The squad blends explosiveness and versatility with a make-up that balances youth and experience.

What this means for the 2025 Test season - Sports News Blitz’s Aidan Leo discusses.

New blood among the troops

The squad comprises 30 forwards and 24 backs - nine of which are uncapped at Test level.

New arrivals include Scarlets’ hooker and star man Marnus van der Merwe, Stormers veteran prop Neethling Fouche, and Lions tighthead Asenathi Ntlabakanye, who comprise the front-row newcomer stocks.

The second-row and back-row contingent consists of promising prospects in the likes of staunch Bulls lock Cobus Wiese and Sharks and Lions flankers Vincent Tshituka and Renzo du Plessis.

Highly touted Northampton Saints eighth man Juarno ‘Trokkie’ Augustus makes his long-awaited arrival, barging into the squad to contend with experienced World Cup winner Jasper Wiese for the number eight jersey.

One of the Sharks’ best performers in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this season, Ethan Hooker, has also been added as wing-centre reinforcement and is seen as a potential future star in the Springbok ranks.

Lastly, and possibly the most widely discussed inclusion - winger Ntokozo Makhaza.

Makhaza has been the Varsity Cup Player of the Year for two years running. But he has yet to enter the professional game as of yet, making his inclusion an intriguing one.

His selection comes at the expense of the explosive emerging talent Jurenzo Julius - the Sharks’ youthful, dynamic centre.

Erasmus has illustrated a method to the madness previously, indicating Makhaza’s rise and story is certainly one to keep an eye on, and a sensational achievement for the young man.

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Usual suspects return

With what almost feels like more experienced double World Cup winning stars than you can count - 31 of them have returned to tackle the 2025 Test season.

Many of them will be there to nurture the young talent going into the 2027 Rugby World Cup, but Siya Kolisi and co. are still raring to go and hoping to feature at the next showpiece, knowing that a three-peat is on offer. 

The squad’s average age is 28, meaning 30 years of age is what Erasmus is aiming for come the next World Cup. An age bracket that won him and the Springboks their second consecutive Web Ellis, and four in total - the most in international rugby history.

Erasmus pleased with the squad development

Commenting on the Springboks’ growing squad depth and overall development, Erasmus said, “We were very pleased with the two Springbok alignment camps we hosted, and we are excited to have the luxury of announcing a squad with so much depth and talent,” SA Rugby reports.

“Having an expanded squad will not only afford us the opportunity to have productive training sessions, but it will also bode well for the younger players in the group to learn from the senior players, many of whom are Rugby World Cup champions.”

“We take pride in offering talented young players a chance to work first-hand with the coaches and to expose them to standards at international level, and we are excited to see them showcase their skills at the camp.”

“We used a total of 50 players last season in an attempt to balance the load on them, while at the same time building towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, and with a few more talented youngsters in this group, we hope that they will learn valuable lessons and stake a strong claim for places in what will be a challenging, yet exciting season,” Erasmus continued.

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Roos rises

In the aftermath of next-generation star Cameron Hanekom’s hamstring injury in the Bulls’ URC semi-final win against the Sharks, Stormers rising talent Evan Roos has been recalled to the Bok setup.

After initially being snubbed, Roos will hope to make a massive impression against the Barbarians, and possibly Italy if selected.

Likely positioned as third-choice eighth man behind Wiese and Augustus, his performance levels will have to be indicative of a polished, experienced veteran if he is to snatch the number eight jersey and make it his own.

Roos has been out of favour in Erasmus’ plans due to his irrational decision-making and errors at times, but he is a phenomenal young talent who is developing season on season, therefore, his call-up is a deserved one.

He certainly deepens the strength and formidable make-up of the back-row options.

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Countdown to the Test season

The Springboks will begin their surge into the Test season with an opener against the Barbarians on Saturday, June 28.

They will then lock horns with Italy for two tests as part of their 2025 incoming tour on July 5 and 12 respectively, as well as a final game in their preparation for the Rugby Championship against Georgia on July 19.

Buckle up Springbok fans - another era of dominance is shaping up yet again. 

Springbok squad:

Props

Thomas du Toit (Bath)

Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers)

Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls)

Ntuthuko Mchunu (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Emirates Lions)

Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls)

Hookers

Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears)

Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets)

Utility forwards

Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls)

Locks

Lood de Jager (Wild Knights)

Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Jean Kleyn (Munster)

Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers)

Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)

Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls)

RG Snyman (Leinster)

Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls)

Loose forwards

Juarno Augustus (Northampton Saints)

Renzo du Plessis (Emirates Lions)

Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks)

Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz)

Evan Roos (DHL Stormers) 

Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs)

Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls)

Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)

Scrumhalves

Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles)

Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Cobus Reinach (Montpellier)

Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions)

Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Flyhalves

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers)

Jordan Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers)

Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers)

Midfielders

Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Damian de Allende (Wild Knights)

Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles)

Wingers

Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls)

Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath)

Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Ntokozo Makhaza (UCT)

Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls)

Edwill van der Merwe (Emirates Lions)

Fullbacks

Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Quan Horn (Emirates Lions)

Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls)

Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers)

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