South Africa Name Rugby Championship Roster

The South African roster has been named for the Rugby Championship. From August 18 to October 06 the Springboks, All Blacks, Pumas, and Wallabies will play each other in home-and-away matches to determine the annual Tier 1 champion of the Southern Hemisphere.

The roster features three uncapped players, one of which is U20’s fly half Damian Willemse. The other two uncapped players are flankers Marco van Staden (Bulls) and Cyle Brink (Lions).

Head Coach Rassie Erasmus selected 25 players in total. The vast majority play for South Africa’s four Super Rugby franchises. No player from the country’s Pro 14 Championship teams made the roster.

32 of the roster play Super Rugby in South Africa. The three remaining players play in England. They are flanker François Louw (Bath), scrum half Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks), and fullback Willie Le Roux (Wasps).

Siya Kolisi will captain the side, continuing on from the June Internationals against England. Kolisi’s next assignment is to be against Argentina in Durban on August 18.

SOUTH AFRICA
Forwards:
Cyle Brink *, Jean-Luc du Preez, Thomas du Toit, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Siya Kolisi (capt.), François Louw, Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Marvin Orie, RG Snyman, Akker van der Merwe,Marco van Staden *, Warren Whiteley

Backs (15):
Lukhanyo Am, Ross Cronjé, Faf de Klerk, Aphiwe Dyantyi, André Esterhuizen, Elton Jantjies, Jesse Kriel, Willie Le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Lionel Mapoe, Lwazi Mvovo, Embrose Papier, Handré Pollard, Ivan van Zyl, Damian Willemse *

* Uncapped

SOUTH AFRICA FIXTURES
August 18: South Africa vs Argentina, Durban
August 25: Argentina vs South Africa, Mendoza
September 08: Australia vs South Africa, Brisbane
September 15: New Zealand vs South Africa, Wellington
September 29: South Africa vs Australia, Port Elizabeth
October 06: South Africa vs New Zealand, Pretoria