Rassie Erasmus has named a 37-man squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship matches against Australia in South Africa.
The Boks kick off their title defence in Johannesburg on Saturday 16 August before facing the Wallabies again a week later in Cape Town on 23 August.
While Erasmus has named an experienced squad featuring 24 Rugby World Cup winners, five players who made their Test debuts in July have also been included.
They are Ethan Hooker, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Cobus Wiese.
2025 World Rugby Under-20 Championship-winning Junior Boks Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead have also been invited to train with the group during their two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg starting on Sunday 27 July, to orientate them into the Springbok culture.
Bok squad breakdown
Bath prop Thomas du Toit has not been included in the squad after being granted a compulsory two-week rest as agreed with the Gallagher Premiership club. Although the Springboks maintain the ability to call him into the squad at any stage if it arises, SA Rugby confirmed.
Meanwhile, Jasper Wiese misses out as he serves a four-week suspension that rules him out of both matches against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies as well as the clash against the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Erasmus has also confirmed a seven-man stand-by list, which includes centre Lukhanyo Am, who missed the July internationals due to a knee injury. He is joined by winger Makazole Mapimpi, scrum-half Faf de Klerk, lock Salmaan Moerat, back-rower Evan Roos, tighthead prop Neethling Fouche and flanker Vincent Tshituka. In total, Erasmus’ squad includes 20 forwards and 17 backline players.
Moerat captained the Springboks for the first time last year and did so again in July, leading the side in the second Test match against Italy.
“It’s always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands during the Castle Lager Incoming Series, but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship,” said Erasmus.
“This group includes several experienced players and a few younger guys, who grabbed their chances in the last few Tests, so we are pleased with this squad for the first two matches.
“We have also informed the players on standby what our plans are and what we expect from them, so that all of them are ready to step up if needed.”
Erasmus elaborated on the composition of the squad, saying: “We probably have three players who can cover each position, which is important in this competition, so it was a thorough process to narrow down the group to 36 players.
“One of our key pillars as a team is to build squad depth, and there is no better way to see what some of the younger players are capable of than to expose them to some of the top teams in the world.”
Erasmus will announce his squad for the two-match tour to New Zealand in September before making the journey down under, where they will face their arch-rivals at Eden Park in Auckland on 6 September, and the Sky Stadium in Wellington on 13 September respectively.
The team will wrap up their campaign with Test matches against Argentina in Durban on Saturday 27 September, and in London on 4 October.
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Springboks Rugby Championship squad
Forwards: Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Kock, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese
Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Edwill van der Merwe, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse
Junior Boks invited: Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, Haashim Pead
Stand-by list: Lukhanyo Am, Faf de Klerk, Makazole Mapimpi, Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos, Neethling Fouche, Vincent Tshituka