Springboks and South Africa Key Player, Siya Kolisi Recieves Indefinite Suspension Today After Positive Anti-doping Test…

The squad includes 10 players who featured in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final in Cape Town and a host of overseas-based players.

The squad is more than double the size of the training squad that participated in the first preparation camp in Durban a little over a week ago, as a number of players completed their club commitments in Japan, while several DHL Stormers players as well as lock RG Snyman (Munster) and loose forward Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) wrapped up their Vodacom URC campaigns.

All 33 players have been part of the national squad in the last two seasons and, similarly to the last camp, a handful of injured players, including Springbok captain and flanker Siya Kolisi, lock Eben Etzebeth, scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse and prop Thomas du Toit, were included in the squad where the Bok medical team will continue to monitor their progress and oversee their rehabilitation.

The nine DHL Stormers players invited include experienced props Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff, utility back Damian Willemse, flyhalf Manie Libbok and utility forward Deon Fourie, while the contingent of Japanese players consists of hooker Malcolm Marx, loose forward Kwagga Smith, lock Lood de Jager, utility forward Franco Smith and centre Damian de Allende.

“We are delighted to have a quality training squad at this camp. The squad size will allow us to have productive on-field training sessions without having to rotate and manage players too much,” said Nienaber.