Three Springbok youngsters ready for breakout years under Erasmus!

Rassie Erasmus recently hosted the Springboks first 2025 camp, which included several hot-stepping youngsters.

The Junior Springboks will play for the seventh place in the World Rugby U20 Championship after going down to Argentina. Image: SA Rugby website

Rassie Erasmus invited fifty-six players for the Springbok’s first camp of the year.

Alongside the usual suspects, such as Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe and Mani Libbok, were several youngsters yet to make their claim for a starting role, including Jurenzo Julius, Henco van Wyk and Reinhardt Ludwig.

Erasmus is notorious for his unpredictable team selections, fielding fifty players in 2024; and will likely give some of South Africa’s rising stars minutes throughout the year when Springboks face the likes of Portugal and Georgia.

Remember the names

Jurenzo Julius

Jurenzo Julius, aka The Boogie Man, seems destined to become a Springbok star.

The 20-year-old centre, also known for causing disruption on the wing, is the latest Paul Roos prodigy to put the world on notice, signing with the Sharks after graduating high school and impressing for the Springboks U-20 team.

Henco van Wyk

Fellow centre Henco van Wyk is another potential candidate for the future.

It’s been an inconsistent United Rugby Championship (URC) for the Lions, but not for van Wyk, the league’s ninth-highest try scorer with four tries in eight games.

The 2021 Junior Springbok Player of the Year could become pivotal in the 2027 World Cup.

Reinhardt Ludwig

Vodacom Bulls lock Reinhardt Ludwig, 22 years old, is another contender for the Springbok’s future.

Standing at 6’6, he gives Erasmus additional coverage for the line-out, while giving him the versatility to play at Flanker.

Erasmus talks Springbok camp

“The focus at this camp will be to get everyone on the same page for the 2025 season, which will be vital in laying a good foundation for us to build on with a challenging campaign coming up,” Erasmus confirmed.

“Most of these players have formed part of our structures at some stage in the last seven years, and their experience and familiarity with the way we do things at the Springboks will be invaluable in guiding the younger players, while others have been exposed to our structures before, so they have a good understanding of the way we operate,

“I’m also excited for the new players in the mix, who have made their mark at franchise level, and we are excited to see them receive this opportunity to get a taste of what is expected of them at the highest level.”