Are You Ready for the Boks?
- Karen Scheepers
- Jun 10
- 6 min read
Dust off your green and gold jerseys, stock up on the braai wood, and get ready, because a blockbuster 2026 international rugby season is just around the corner! Rassie Erasmus and his men are gearing up for an action-packed year featuring the brand-new Nations Championship, the return of traditional long-format tours, and epic clashes across three continents.
However, the road to glory is already looking like an uphill battle. Dozens of injured Springboks are racing to recover ahead of the first Test of the season against England, leaving the national team in a precarious position.
The Springboks could have a difficult time at the start of the international season after their star flyhalf, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, copped a serious ankle injury that will keep him out of action for months. But the SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year nominee is just one of dozens of Springboks in a race to be fit for the season-opening unofficial Test against the Barbarians on 20 June and the opening match of the 2026 Nations Championship against England on 4 July.
Before we dive into the medical room, let's look at the mouthwatering lineup of games heading our way.
The Ultimate 2026 Springbok Fixture Guide
Here is your verified, braai-ready schedule for the entire 2026 season. We have aligned all kickoff times to South African Standard Time (SAST) so you don't miss a single second of the action!
Date | Fixture | Kick-off (SAST) | Venue |
Sat, 20 June | Springboks vs. Barbarians | 15:00 | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha |
Sat, 4 July | Springboks vs. England | 17:40 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
Sat, 11 July | Springboks vs. Scotland | 17:40 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
Sat, 18 July | Springboks vs. Wales | 17:40 | Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban |
Sat, 8 Aug | Argentina vs. Springboks | 21:00 | Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires |
Sat, 22 Aug | Springboks vs. New Zealand | 17:05 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
Sat, 29 Aug | Springboks vs. New Zealand | 17:05 | DHL Stadium, Cape Town |
Sat, 5 Sep | Springboks vs. New Zealand | 17:05 | FNB Stadium, Johannesburg |
Sat, 12 Sep | Springboks vs. New Zealand | 21:05 | M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA |
Sun, 27 Sep | Australia vs. Springboks | 11:45 | Optus Stadium, Perth, Australia |
Sat, 7 Nov | Italy vs. Springboks | 13:40 | Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy |
Fri, 13 Nov | France vs. Springboks | 22:10 | Stade de France, Paris |
Sat, 21 Nov | Ireland vs. Springboks | 18:40 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin |
Crisis in the Camp: Can Rassie's Depth Pass the Ultimate Test?
While the fixture list is enough to get any rugby fan's blood pumping, the reality of the squad's current injury list is causing some sleepless nights for the Bok coaching staff.
Sacha's Big Setback & The Scrumhalf Scramble
Our teenage prodigy and rising star, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, suffered a severe ankle syndesmosis injury while scoring a brilliant try during the Stormers' URC quarter-final victory over Cardiff. He is expected to be out for three to six months.
But it’s at scrumhalf where the red lights are truly flashing.
Cobus Reinach is racing to recover from injury in time for the England Test, while fellow No. 9s Grant Williams, Jaden Hendrikse, and Morné van den Berg (who is out for up to six months after bicep surgery) are also in a race against time. This leaves a massive void of international experience behind the scrum if they don't recover in time.
A Who's Who in the Hospital Ward
It doesn’t stop there. Take a look at the world-class talent currently rushing toward recovery:
Hookers: Malcolm Marx and Bongi Mbonambi
Locks: RG Snyman (ruled out for the season), Eben Etzebeth, and Lood de Jager
Loose Forwards: Double World Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kwagga Smith
Backs: Center/wing Ethan Hooker, fullback Aphelele Fassi, and flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse
With so many fringe players, former Boks, and Junior Boks also in the infirmary, South Africa’s depth is being stretched to its absolute limit.
Rassie's Masterplan: 21 Uncapped Starlets Named in 51-Man Training Squad.
To combat this injury headache, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named an exciting 51-man squad, featuring 21 uncapped players, for the team’s first training camp of the season, which started in Johannesburg. This massive group has been assembled with an eye on the historic double-header in Gqeberha on Saturday, 20 June, where the Boks take on the Barbarians and the SA 'A' team faces Zimbabwe.
With the Vodacom Bulls players unavailable for selection after booking their place in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship final against Leinster, Erasmus has selected a handful of junior players in his squad. This group includes SA U20 stars Yaqeen Ahmed (flyhalf/centre), Danie Kruger (prop), Luan Giliomee (utility back), Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), Oliver Reid (prop), Liam van Wyk (hooker), as well as Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton (loose forward/lock), Siphosethu Mnebelele (hooker), Markus Muller (centre), and Zekhethelo Siyaya (utility back), all of whom were members of the expanded Springbok alignment camp squad.
The other uncapped players in the group are Paul de Villiers (flanker), Bathobele Hlekani (utility forward), Hanro Jacobs (prop), Jurenzo Julius (utility back), Imad Khan (scrumhalf), JJ Kotze (hooker), Sibabalwa Mahashe (loose forward), Haashim Pead, Nico Steyn (both scrumhalves), Emmanuel Tshituka (flanker), and Jaco Williams (utility back).
Our overseas-based contingent is also linking up; the Japanese-based players who have completed their club commitments joined the squad from the outset of the camp, while the UK-based players will report for duty once their season officially concludes in line with World Rugby’s Regulation 9.
Erasmus was thrilled to get their on-field preparations underway, looking forward to seeing how the younger players adapt to the demands of senior international rugby:
"We named a large group of players as we will be selecting a Springbok and SA ‘A’ team for the season-opening double-header in Gqeberha, and this will be beneficial in the long term as we build the squad, looking forward to next year’s Rugby World Cup and beyond," said Erasmus. "There is also an exciting mix of experienced campaigners and young players in this squad, and this formula has worked well for us in the past to ensure a clear pathway to build depth within the group."
While the training camp is currently under way, fans won't have to wait long for the next big announcements:
The official Springbok matchday team to play the Barbarians will be announced next week.The Bulls that will join the squad will be annouced after the URC final
The official Springbok squad for the opening leg of the Nations Championship against England (4 July), Scotland (11 July), and Wales (18 July) will be announced on Sunday, 21 June, immediately following the conclusion of the Vodacom URC.
The 51-Man Springbok Training Squad
Here is the full squad currently in camp in Johannesburg:
Forwards
Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Paul de Villiers (DHL Stormers), Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers), Bathobele Hlekani (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Hanro Jacobs (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), JJ Kotze (DHL Stormers), Danie Kruger (DHL Stormers), Sibabalwa Mahashe (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Ntuthuko Mchunu (DHL Stormers), Siphosethu Mnebelele (Vodacom Bulls), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Riley Norton (DHL Stormers), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Oliver Reid (DHL Stormers), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Emmanuel Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Liam van Wyk (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Backs
Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL Stormers), Lukhanyo Am (DynaBoars), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Luan Giliomee (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Jurenzo Julius (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Imad Khan (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Markus Muller (DHL Stormers), Haashim Pead (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Zekhethelo Siyaya (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Nico Steyn (Fidelity Lions), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jaco Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
An Ambitious June 20th Double-Header
This massive injury toll makes SA Rugby’s upcoming plans for June 20th look incredibly ambitious. Not only do the Boks face the Barbarians in Gqeberha, but SA Rugby is also fielding an SA 'A' team against Zimbabwe on the very same day.
But if there is one thing we know about Springbok rugby, it's that we thrive when our backs are against the wall. This injury crisis is the perfect breeding ground for the next generation of green and gold heroes to step up and write their names into folklore.
All image Credits: Springboks
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