Coach Rassie Erasmus has named three U20 world champions to join the 37-man Springbok squad preparing for the 2025 Rugby Championship opener against Australia in Johannesburg.

Fresh off winning the World U20 Championship, Junior Boks Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste and Haashim Pead will link up with the squad for a two-week training camp in Johannesburg, as part of a long-term integration plan.

Erasmus on Wednesday named a trimmed-down 37-man squad for the opening two Tests of the Rugby Championship against Australia, with some high-profile omissions grabbing attention.

Severla players have been released to their unions, potentially for Currie Cup duty, including World Cup winners Lukhanyo Am, Faf de Klerk and Makazole Mapimpi, while the Stormers trio of Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos and Neethling Fouche also miss out, along with Sharks bruiser Vincent Tshituka who impressed against the Barbarians and Italy.

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Other big names sitting out include Thomas du Toit, who is undergoing a compulsory two-week rest period in line with English Premiership protocols, and Jasper Wiese, who is serving a four-match suspension.

The final squad includes 24 World Cup winners, with five Bok rookies – Ethan Hooker, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe, and Cobus Wiese – retaining their places after impressive showings in July’s Incoming Series.

“It’s always tough to reduce the squad, but we wanted a more manageable group for the Rugby Championship,” said Erasmus. “We’ve also communicated with the standby players, so they know exactly where they stand.”

Erasmus has emphasised building depth and says the squad offers balance across all positions: “We probably have three players covering each position, which is crucial in a tournament like this.”

The Boks open their campaign against Australia in Johannesburg on 16 August, followed by a second clash in Cape Town on 23 August, before touring New Zealand and concluding the tournament with back-to-back games against Argentina.

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Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (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 (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers).

Photo: Timothy Rogers/Getty Images