Cape Town – Stormers flyhalf Damian Willemse and Springbok Sevens player Muller du Plessis will join the Junior Springboks in the UK after being named in Chean Roux’s 29-man squad for their warm-up tour in preparation for the World Rugby U20 Championship. 

The Junior Springboks will face Scotland in Edinburgh on Friday, May 4, Wales in Cardiff on Tuesday, May 8, and England in Worcester on Friday, May 11. 

Willemse will join the Junior Springboks in England for the final tour match, meaning that he will miss the Stormers’ clash against the Chiefs at Newlands on May 12, while Du Plessis will fly directly from Singapore to Edinburgh before of their opening match against Scotland. 

The only new face in Roux’s squad, which will be led by lock Salmaan Moerat, is former SA Schools prop Nathan McBeth. Apart from McBeth and Willemse, all of the squad members featured in the warm-up matches against Georgia in Stellenbosch, which the Junior Springbok won 55-14 and 48-23 respectively.

“The UK tour is a vital cog in our preparation for the World Rugby U20 Championship, as we will play three tough Tests against sides who will also be participating in the competition,” said Roux. 

“Our squad has been together for four camps now, so the players know each other well on and off the field, but we believe this tour will bring them even closer together.

“Several players in the squad have never been overseas before, so it will also be good to see how they adapt to playing on foreign territory in front of passionate crowds.

“With regards to Damian and Muller, it is fantastic that they will join us on tour, and I would like to thank the Stormers, in particular, for working with us in this regard as we build toward the U20 Championship.” 

Commenting on McBeth’s inclusion, Roux said: “Nathan has been in SA Rugby’s junior structures for several years having coming through the SA Rugby Youth Weeks and SA Schools team, and he has played with most of the squad members at some point in his career, so it is good to have him the in the group. He also boasts Under-20 international experience after playing for Scotland in the U20 Six Nations, so he knows what to expect.” 

The team will depart for Edinburgh on Monday, May 30, and will return to SA on Sunday, May 13. The Junior Springboks will face Georgia, Ireland and France in the pool stages of the World Rugby U20 Championship in the south of France, which runs from May 30 to June 17. 

Junior Springbok squad for UK Tour:

Zak Burger – Sharks, scrumhalf

Phendulani Buthelezi – Sharks, looseforward

Ben-Jason Dixon – Western Province, lock

Lubabalo Dobela – Free State, flyhalf

Muller du Plessis – Sharks, utility back

Schalk Erasmus – Western Province, hooker

Tyrone Green – Xerox Golden Lions, winger

Jack Hart – Golden Lions, scrumhalf

Lyle Hendricks – Western Province, centre

Daniel Jooste – Western Province, hooker

Cohen Kiewit – Golden Lions, prop

David Kriel – Western Province, winger

Rewan Kruger – Free State, scrumhalf

Gianni Lombard – Golden Lions, fullback

Nathan McBeth – Golden Lions, prop

Salmaan Moerat (captain) – Western Province, lock

Sihle Njezula – Western Province, winger

Ruan Nortje – Blue Bulls, lock

Asenathi Ntlabakanye – Golden Lions, prop

Rikus Pretorius – Western Province, centre

Manuel Rass – Golden Lions, centre

Sazi Sandi – Western Province, prop

Dian Schoonees – Golden Lions, looseforward

Wandisile Simelane – Golden Lions, centre

PJ Steenkamp – Golden Lions, looseforward

Alulutho Tshakweni – Eastern Province, prop

Muller Uys – Western Province, looseforward

Tiaan van der Merwe – Golden Lions, prop

Damian Willemse – Western Province, flyhalf