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Eastern Province loose forward Junior Pokomela and 2015 SA Schools captain and Western Province lock Ernst van Rhyn have been named as vice-captains for the Manchester showpiece.

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The squad features only two players who were members of the Junior Springbok squad that finished third at the international showpiece in Italy last year, namely centre JT Jackson and scrumhalf Marco Jansen van Vuren.

The Junior Springboks will kick off the 2016 international spectacle against Japan on Tuesday, June 7 at the Academy Stadium, before taking on Argentina on June 11 at the AJ Bell Stadium and France on June 15 back at the Academy Stadium in the pool stages.

 

Nine members of the SA Schools team that featured in the U18 International Series in South Africa last year have also been included. 

They are centre Stedman Gans, flyhalves Manie Libbok and Curwin Bosch, scrumhalf Embrose Papier, locks Ruben de Villiers and Van Rhyn, loose forwards Cobus Wiese and Zain Davids and prop Carlü Sadie.

 

“It is always challenging to name a squad of only 28 players, especially if one considers the immense talent at junior level in South Africa, but we have selected the best possible team for the World Rugby U20 Championship,” said Theron.

 

“JT and Marco were members of our touring squad last year, and they will be able to guide the other players in terms of what to expect, while we are lucky to have nine players in the squad who have played against some of the northern hemisphere teams in the U18 International Series.

 

“Unfortunately injuries ruled a few players out of contention, and I feel for them. 

"But nevertheless I am pleased with the squad we have selected and I believe they have potential to challenge the best teams in the showpiece.

 

“This team offers something different to the sides we have selected in the past, and we are excited by the prospects these players offer.”

 

Among the players who were ruled out of contention for selection due to injury were Golden Lions lock Rhyno Herbst, who was recently stabbed in an attack, while Western Province prop Wikus Groenewald and Blue Bulls utility forward Hendre Stassen are nursing ankle injuries.

 

The team will play their first official warm-up match on Friday at Wits University in Johannesburg against the Golden Lions U19 and U21 teams, with an eye on sharpening up their game before the tournament.

 

This will be followed by clashes against Maties in Stellenbosch on Tuesday, May 17 and the SWD Eagles in Oudtshoorn on Saturday May 21, with the team set to depart for the international showpiece on June 2.

 

Junior Springbok squad: Tango Balekile, Kwenzo Blose, Curwin Bosch, Jan-Henning Campher, Zain Davids, Ruben de Villiers, Stedman Gans, James Hall, Denzel Hill, Jaco Holtzhausen, JT Jackson, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Manie Libbok, Mosolwa Mafuma, Franco Naude, S’busiso Nkosi, Nicolaas Oosthuizen, Embrose Papier, Junior Pokomela, Carlü Sadie, Eli Snyman, Franco van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe, Ernst van Rhyn, Keanu Vers, Jeremy Ward, Cobus Wiese, Eduard Zandberg.

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