Frans Steyn, Cobus Reinach, Marcell Coetzee and Rynardt Elstadt have all been called up to the 26-man squad for a Springbok alignment camp.

Montpellier-based Steyn, who is rumoured to be set to return to Bloemfontein next year, earned the last of his 56 Test caps in 2017, while Ulster flank Coetzee and Northampton Saints scrumhalf Reinach have also earned recalls after outstanding seasons in Europe.

Elstadt, who helped Toulouse to the French Top 14 title this year, has earned his first call-up to a Springbok camp and is joined by teammate Cheslin Kolbe.

The squad gathered in Pretoria on Sunday for the next installment of the national alignment and conditioning camps as the Springboks continue with their preparations for the forthcoming international season.

Players from the Vodacom Bulls and Sharks who took part in the weekend’s Vodacom Super Rugby quarter-final matches, will join the camp from next Monday.

The Springboks kick off their shortened campaign on 20 July against the Wallabies in Johannesburg and that match will be followed a week later by the keenly awaited rematch with New Zealand in Wellington, the scene of last year’s epic away win over against the All Blacks.

The Boks conclude their official campaign against Argentina two weeks later, on 10 August in Salta, while the same two teams are set to meet again a week later in Pretoria in a once-off Test before the Boks report for World Cup training duty.

Springbok squad for alignment and conditioning camp:

Forwards:

 Schalk Brits (Bulls), Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Ireland), Lood de Jager (Bulls), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), Rynardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), Eben Etzebeth ( Stormers), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers), Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), Siya Kolisi ( Stormers), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Malcolm Marx ( Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Gloucester, England), Marvin Orie ( Lions), Kwagga Smith (Lions).

Backs:

Damian de Allende (Stormers), Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England), Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions), Elton Jantjies ( Lions), Herschel Jantjies (Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, France), Dillyn Lleyds (Stormers), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz, Japan), Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, England), Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France).

Photo: Steve Haag