Blockbusting Hollywoodbets Sharks centre Jurenzo Julius is one of three former Junior Springboks that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus invited for the back-to-back World Champions’ first training (alignment) camp of the year.
The invited players will gather on 10 March for the three-day camp in Cape Town with Erasmus and his coaching staff gathering on 7 March for a three-day planning block in a season where South Africa will play Italy in two home Tests on 5 and 12 July, followed by a one-off match against Georgia (19 July) with the venues for all three games yet to be announced.
Although Italy has shown in recent games they are no longer push-overs, the two Tests against the Azzurri and one against Georgia, give Erasmus and his coaching staff a great chance to blood more new players after extending an invite to 56 home-based players.
The invited group includes 18 members of the 2023 World Cup-winning squad while a further 22 already capped players were also invited. While the likes of DHL Stormers utility back Suleiman Hartzeneberg, Emirates Lions-duo Asenathi Ntlabakanye (prop) and Henco van Wyk (centre) and Vodacom Bulls loose-forward Celempilo Gumede will get a second taste of alignment camp training with the national side.
For Julius, dubbed the Boogeyman since his high school playing days at Paul Roos Gimnasium, and the Bulls’ JF van Heerden and Reinhardt Ludwig (both locks) it will be a first taste of training with the big boys.
But after helping the Sharks win last year’s Currie Cup and putting up some big performances for the Durbanites in the United Rugby Championship and European Champions Cup, Julius has made a seamless transition to senior professional rugby.
He was also one of the standout players – alongside Van Heerden - in a disappointing Junior Springbok U20 World Championship campaign in Cape Town, that saw them finish in seventh place.
But of rewarding Julius, Van Heerden and Ludwig with first-time invites Erasmus says:
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.
Our alignment camps have proven invaluable in the last few years as it offers us the opportunity to present our structures for the season, as well as the Springbok culture and way of doing things.
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.
Zooming in on the composition of the group invited to the camp, Erasmus said:
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.
Players invited to Springbok alignment camp:
Forwards: Ethan Bester, Phepsi Buthelezi, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane (all Hollywoodbets Sharks); Ben-Jason Dixon, Joseph Dweba, Neethling Fouche, Deon Fourie, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter (all DHL Stormers); Renzo du Plessis, Francke Horn, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter (all Emirates Lions); Johan Grobbelaar, Celimpilo Gumede, Cameron Hanekom, Wilco Louw, Reinhardt Ludwig, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Akker van der Merwe, JF van Heerden, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Vodacom Bulls).
Backs: Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Jurenzo Julius, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams (all Hollywoodbets Sharks); Paul de Wet, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse (all DHL Stormers); Quan Horn, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe, Henco van Wyk (all Emirates Lions); Sebastian de Klerk, David Kriel, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Embrose Papier (all Vodacom Bulls).
