Cape Town: Sixteen Stormers players have been included in the Springbok training group as national coach Rassie Erasmus prepares separate teams for Saturday’s Springbok and SA A double-header in Gqeberha.
The Stormers will provide one of the largest provincial contingents in the Springbok training squad as South Africa begins preparations for a demanding international season.
Sixteen players connected to the Cape franchise have been included in the wider national group, which assembled in Johannesburg ahead of two matches at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday. The Springboks will face the Barbarians in the main fixture, while an SA A team will meet Zimbabwe in the curtain-raiser.
The Cape contingent brings together established Springboks, developing senior players and several young prospects who have yet to play Test rugby. Their selection gives the national coaches an opportunity to assess experienced combinations while exposing emerging talent to the standards and systems of the Springbok environment.
The original squad included Stormers captain Salmaan Moerat, but he was released from camp after suffering an injury. Ruben van Heerden was subsequently called up as his replacement, maintaining the Stormers representation at 16 players.
Ruben van Heerden Receives Late Opportunity
Van Heerden’s inclusion follows a strong season in which the lock reached 50 appearances for the Stormers and helped the Cape side advance to the United Rugby Championship semi-final.
The 28-year-old former Junior Springbok previously represented the Bulls and Sharks before spending time with Exeter Chiefs in England. Since joining the Stormers, he has developed into an important part of the franchise’s second-row depth and line-out structure.
His call-up gives the Springbok coaches another experienced lock option after Moerat’s withdrawal. It also rewards Van Heerden for his contribution during a campaign in which the Stormers won 12 league matches, finished third on the URC table and reached the final four of the competition.
The Stormers’ season ended with a 20-11 semi-final defeat against Leinster in Dublin. Despite that result, the national selections show that the franchise’s performances and development structures remain firmly within the Springbok coaching team’s plans.
Experienced Springboks Lead Cape Contingent
The Stormers group includes several players who have already represented South Africa at Test level.
Damian Willemse remains one of the most versatile backs available to the national team and can cover fullback, centre and flyhalf. His ability to move between positions gives Erasmus valuable flexibility when selecting two matchday squads for the same day.
Loose forward Evan Roos provides physical ball-carrying and breakdown strength, while Ben-Jason Dixon offers options at flank and lock. Tighthead prop Neethling Fouche, loosehead Ntuthuko Mchunu, hooker Andre-Hugo Venter and prop Zachary Porthen add further front-row depth.
The original Stormers announcement also included Moerat among the capped group before his injury withdrawal. Van Heerden now takes his place in the camp, although he has not yet represented the Springboks at senior Test level.
The wider squad also includes Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe, who are due to return to the Stormers next season. Although both were listed under their current clubs when the national squad was announced, their planned return adds another Cape Town connection to the Springbok group.
Kolisi began his senior professional career in the Western Cape and captained the Stormers before later joining the Sharks. Kolbe also developed through Western Province and the Stormers before building an international club career in France and Japan.
Their return will add experience and leadership to a Stormers squad already producing a substantial number of national players.
Uncapped Players Given a Clear Pathway
Several uncapped Stormers players have been included as Erasmus continues building depth ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.
The younger Cape representatives include Yaqeen Ahmed, Danie Kruger, Riley Norton, Markus Muller and Oliver Reid. Senior Stormers players Paul de Villiers, Imad Khan, JJ Kotze and Van Heerden are also seeking their first Test appearances.
Ahmed, who can play at flyhalf or centre, offers attacking versatility in the backline. Khan provides another option at scrumhalf, while Muller adds depth among the outside backs.
In the forwards, De Villiers has developed through the Stormers loose-forward system, while Kotze has gained senior experience at hooker. Kruger and Reid add young front-row options, and Norton can play at lock or loose forward.
Their selection does not guarantee a Test debut, but it places them directly inside the national structures and gives the coaches an opportunity to assess how quickly they adapt to Springbok training demands.
For young players, exposure to experienced internationals and national coaching systems can be valuable even when they do not immediately make a matchday squad. It also creates a clearer pathway from junior and provincial rugby into senior international contention.
Erasmus Building Two Teams for Saturday
Erasmus named a large training group because the Springbok management must prepare two separate teams for Saturday.
The SA A side will face Zimbabwe at 12:00, followed by the Springboks against the Barbarians at 15:00. Both fixtures will take place at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
The unusual double-header requires enough players to cover two matchday squads while maintaining suitable combinations and replacement options.
Erasmus said the expanded group would benefit South African rugby over the longer term as the coaches continue building depth ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
“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,” Erasmus said.
He added that the group combined experienced international players with younger prospects, a selection formula that had previously helped South Africa establish depth and create pathways into the national team.
“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,” Erasmus said.
Barbarians Offer First Test of the Season
The Barbarians fixture will open the Springboks’ season and provide the national coaches with an early opportunity to assess players under match conditions.
The invitational side traditionally combines international players from different countries and clubs, often playing an attacking and less structured form of rugby. That style can create a difficult opening assignment because the opposition may be unpredictable and willing to take risks from anywhere on the field.
The match will be followed by the new Nations Championship, with South Africa scheduled to face England, Scotland and Wales during July.
The Springbok squad for those fixtures is expected to be announced after the conclusion of the URC season. Performances in training and during Saturday’s two matches could therefore influence selection for the next stage of the international campaign.
The SA A match also carries importance because it gives developing players meaningful senior opposition rather than limiting them to training sessions.
Players who impress against Zimbabwe could strengthen their claims for inclusion in future Springbok squads, particularly if injuries or changes in form create opportunities later in the season.
Strong Signal for Stormers Development
Having 16 players in the national training squad reflects the depth of talent currently moving through the Stormers system.
The group includes experienced professionals, recent Junior Springboks and players who have progressed through Western Province structures. It also covers almost every area of the field, including the front row, locks, loose forwards, scrumhalf, midfield and outside backs.
The number is especially significant after a URC campaign in which the Stormers competed near the top of the table and reached the semi-finals despite injuries to important players.
National selection provides recognition for individual performances, but it also places pressure on the franchise to continue developing replacements when leading players are unavailable during international windows.
For the selected players, the camp offers different opportunities. Established Springboks will aim to secure their places for the Nations Championship, while uncapped players will try to show that they can perform at the higher pace and intensity expected by the national coaches.
Stormers Players in the Training Group
The Stormers forwards in the updated squad include Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Neethling Fouche, JJ Kotze, Danie Kruger, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Riley Norton, Zachary Porthen, Oliver Reid, Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter and Ruben van Heerden.
The Stormers backs are Yaqeen Ahmed, Imad Khan, Markus Muller and Damian Willemse.
Kolisi and Kolbe are also part of the national squad and are due to join the Stormers next season, although they remain contracted to other teams for the current campaign.
The Cape representation could feature across both Saturday fixtures, depending on how Erasmus and the national coaching staff divide the squad.
Final team selections will show which players are given immediate opportunities and which remain in the wider training group as preparations continue.
Official Links To Add Within The Article
Stormers announcement of 16 selected players
SA Rugby Springbok news page
Springbok versus Barbarians fixture information
Stormers team and player profiles
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium information
Springbok fixtures and results
Q&A
How many Stormers players are in the Springbok training squad?
Sixteen current Stormers players are in the updated national training group.
Why was Ruben van Heerden called up?
Van Heerden replaced Stormers lock Salmaan Moerat, who was released from the camp because of injury.
When will the Springboks play the Barbarians?
The Springboks will face the Barbarians at 15:00 on Saturday at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
When will SA A play Zimbabwe?
The SA A match against Zimbabwe will begin at 12:00 on Saturday at the same venue.
Which experienced Stormers players are included?
The group includes Damian Willemse, Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon, Neethling Fouche, Andre-Hugo Venter, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Zachary Porthen.
Which uncapped Stormers players are included?
The uncapped group includes Yaqeen Ahmed, Paul de Villiers, Imad Khan, JJ Kotze, Danie Kruger, Markus Muller, Riley Norton, Oliver Reid and Ruben van Heerden.
Are Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe included?
Yes. Both are in the national squad and are expected to return to the Stormers next season, although they are currently listed under other clubs.
Why did Rassie Erasmus select such a large squad?
The coaches must prepare a Springbok team and an SA A team for two matches taking place on the same day.
When will the Nations Championship squad be announced?
The Springbok squad for the matches against England, Scotland and Wales is expected to be announced after the conclusion of the URC season.
SAI Search Summary
Sixteen current Stormers players have joined the Springbok training squad ahead of Saturday’s double-header in Gqeberha. Ruben van Heerden replaced injured Stormers captain Salmaan Moerat, maintaining the Cape franchise’s representation in the national group. The squad includes experienced Springboks such as Damian Willemse and Evan Roos, alongside uncapped prospects including Yaqeen Ahmed, Paul de Villiers, Imad Khan and Riley Norton. SA A will face Zimbabwe at 12:00 before the Springboks play the Barbarians at 15:00. Rassie Erasmus says the enlarged squad will help South Africa build depth towards next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Source: Stormers Rugby; South African Rugby Union; statement by Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus; News24 – Herman Mostert.
