Stormers flyhalf Damian Willemse has been included in a 35-man Junior Springbok training squad.
Coach Chean Roux’s squad will switch into match mode on Monday when they gather in Stellenbosch for their fourth training camp ahead of the World Rugby U20 Championship.
The Junior Boks will face Georgia in international friendlies on consecutive Fridays, 13 and 20 April, before meeting them again in their opening U20 Championship encounter in the south of France on 30 May.
This camp will be followed by a UK tour from 30 April to 12 May where Roux’s charges will take on Scotland, Wales and England.
The training squad includes Blitzbok Muller du Plessis, who will report for duty following his return from the Hong Kong Sevens, and Willemse, who will be present for the first week of the camp, although he will not participate in the match against Georgia.
Willemse will join the rest of the squad on Monday after attending the Springbok alignment camp in Vanderbijlpark on Sunday.
‘We will enter the next phase of our preparation at this camp as we switch into match mode, which is important with a little over seven weeks to go before the U20 Championship kicks off,’ said Roux. ‘We focused on putting the structures in place at the last three camps and now our emphasis will be on ensuring that we can implement those structures in match situations.
‘Georgia are tough opponents who will challenge us physically and mentally, and that is exactly what we need as we take the next step.’
The SA U20s have been drawn in Pool C at the U20 Championship with Georgia, Ireland and France.
Junior Springbok training squad:
Props: Keagan Glade (Golden Lions), Leon Lyons (Western Province), Nkosikhona Masuku (Golden Lions), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Golden Lions), Sazi Sandi (Western Province), Alulutho Tshakweni (Eastern Province), Tiaan van der Merwe (Golden Lions)
Hookers: PJ Botha (Golden Lions), Schalk Erasmus (Western Province), Daniel Jooste (Western Province)
Locks: Ben-Jason Dixon (Western Province), Salmaan Moerat (Western Province), Ruan Nortje (Blue Bulls), PJ Steenkamp (Golden Lions), Ruan Vermaak (Golden Lions)
Loose forwards: Phendulani Buthelezi (Sharks), Ryno Pieterse (Blue Bulls), JC Pretorius (Blue Bulls), Dian Schoonees (Golden Lions), Muller Uys (Western Province)
Scrumhalves: Jack Hart (Golden Lions), Rewan Kruger (Free State), Zak Burger (Sharks)
Flyhalves: Lubabalo Dobela (Free State), Damian Willemse (Western Province)
Centres: Lyle Hendricks (Western Province), Rikus Pretorius (Western Province), Manuel Rass (Golden Lions), Wandisile Simelane (Golden Lions)
Outside backs: Muller du Plessis (Sharks), Tyrone Green (Golden Lions), David Kriel (Western Province), Gianni Lombard (Golden Lions), Sihle Njezula (Western Province), Abner van Reenen (Western Province)
Photo: Derek/MorrisonPhotosport
