Recently, the Springboks confirmed their new-look management team as they begin to get the wheels in motion for the 2024 Test season, which is expected to kick off with a Test against Wales.
This will be followed by two Tests against Ireland and a one-off clash against Portugal, and particularly for that latter match, it’s expected that some newcomers could receive an opportunity in Springbok colours.
According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, Bulls No 8 Cameron Hanekom is one of the exciting ‘next gen’ players invited to the first Bok camp of the year, along with other talented uncapped players such as Ruan Venter (21), Jordan Hendrikse (22), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (22), Mpilo Gumede (23), Quan Horn (22) and Henco van Wyk (22).
Lions halfback pair Sanele Nohamba and Morne van den Berg have also cracked the nod, along with Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar, and Stormers counterpart Andre-Hugo Venter.
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It remains to be seen what other players might join this camp, or other alignment sessions that are planned prior to the start of the Test season, with TimesLive previously reporting that Stormers utility back Suleiman Hartzenberg has firmly entrenched himself on the Springbok coaches’ radar.
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Hartzenberg, who can feature on the wing or at centre, is still just 20 years old, but there has never been any doubt about his prodigious talent.
A product of Bishop’s College, he has featured previously for the Junior Springboks and was named in the South Africa A squad for their European tour in October 2022.
Besides Hartzenberg, it’s also thought that Stormers loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani and tighthead prop Neethling Fouche could come into the Springbok mix this year.
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THE BOKS’ CONFIRMED HOME TEST SCHEDULE FOR 2024 IS:
Saturday, 6 July: SA vs. Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 13 July: SA vs. Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
Saturday, 20 July: SA vs. Portugal (venue TBC)
Saturday, 31 August: SA vs. New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday, 7 September: SA vs. New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday, 28 September: SA vs. Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
Meanwhile, the Springboks’ away Test schedule includes two matches against the Wallabies in Australia in August, and an away match against Argentina in the Rugby Championship in September, as well as engagements in Europe in November 2024.
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