The Springboks will open the 2024 Test season against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday 22 June. This game will be followed by the Incoming Series which features back-to-back Tests against Ireland (ranked second in the world) in Pretoria and Durban (on 6 and 13 July).
With an extended 35-man squad currently in training, it’s unfortunately been confirmed that the Springboks are dealing with an extensive injury list.
As many as nine players have already been officially ruled out of both the season-opener against Wales and the highly anticipated first Test against Ireland.
Who are the injured Springbok players?
- Steven Kitshoff
- Jean Kleyn
- Lood de Jager
- Jean-Luc du Preez
- Jaden Hendrikse
- Henco van Wyk
- Canan Moodie
- Damian Willemse
- Kurt-Lee Arendse
With these players already confirmed to be unavailable for the Wales Test and first Ireland Test due to injury, there is also an ongoing question mark over Cheslin Kolbe.
The World Cup star has only just rejoined his teammates in Pretoria and will do his rehabilitation under the supervision of the Bok medical staff.
The speedster suffered a knee niggle during the Japanese club season, and after consultation with the Springbok medical team on Sunday, he was released on Monday to seek a specialist opinion. Kolbe returned to camp on Wednesday afternoon to follow a rehabilitation programme.
It’s hoped he might be available for selection for the opening Test of the Incoming Tour against Ireland, but it remains to be seen if all progresses according to plan.
After the two Tests against Ireland, the Springboks will then turn their attention to the Rugby Championship where they will line up against Australia in Brisbane and Perth (on 10 and 17 August) before facing arch-rivals New Zealand on consecutive weekends in South Africa – in Johannesburg on 31 August and Cape Town on 7 September.
They will then make a short trip to Argentina where they will face the Pumas in Santiago (on 21 September) and then in Nelspruit on 28 September.
This will be followed by the traditional year-end tour featuring Tests against Scotland in Edinburgh (10 November), England in London (16 November) and Wales in Cardiff (23 November).
TRAINING SQUAD (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER):
Forwards: Phepsi Buthelezi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Joseph Dweba, Ben-Jason Dixon (both DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Celimpilo Gumede (Bulls), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Blu Revs), Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers).
Backs: Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jordan Hendrikse (Emirates Lions), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Emirates Lions), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi, Siya Masuku (both Hollywoodbets Sharks), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions), Edwill van der Merwe (Emirates Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
2024 FIXTURES:
Saturday, 22 June: SA vs Wales (Twickenham, London)
Saturday, 6 July: SA vs Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 13 July: SA vs Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
Saturday, 20 July: SA vs Portugal (Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein)
Saturday, 10 August: Australia vs SA (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
Saturday, 17 August: Australia vs SA (Optus Stadium, Perth)
Saturday, 31 August: SA vs New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday, 7 September: SA v New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday, 21 September: Argentina v SA (Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, Santiago)
Saturday, 28 September: SA v Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
Sunday, 10 November: Scotland vs SA (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
Saturday, 16 November: England vs SA (Twickenham, London)
Saturday, 23 November: Wales vs SA (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
