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Rassie Erasmus has announced his 37-man squad to face Australia

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 23 Jul 2025

Ralph Staniforth 23 Jul 2025

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Rassie Erasmus announces 37-man Springbok squad for Australia's Rugby Championship.
New inclusions: 3 U20 Junior Springbok champions—Hlekani, Jooste, and Pead.
Retained squad favorites: Hooker, Ntlabakanye, Venter, Merwe, Wiese.

Rassie Erasmus has announced his squad to face Australia (Getty images)

Rassie Erasmus has today announced the Springbok squad that will face Australia in the first two 2025 Rugby Championship matches.

It is a 37-man squad, cut down from the June incoming series. There are a few surprises with some big names left out, however, it is well known that Erasmus is looking to build squad depth and give the younger players some more game time.

The coaching staff have also offered the opportunity to three U20 Junior Springbok world champions to join the squad so that they can get a taste of training with the Boks in the coming weeks. Those three are Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste and Haashim Pead.

Recent Springbok debutants, Ethan Hooker, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Cobus Wiese have all retained their places in the squad.

A list of standby players has also been released. This list includes Salmaan Moerat, Lukhanyo Am, Evan Roos, Makazole Mapimpi, Neethling Fouche and Vincent Tshituka. One would be surprised not to see these players play any role in the six-match competition.

The squad that will tour New Zealand will be announced before they depart at the end of August. That tour will include an historic clash at Eden Park where the All Blacks have not lost since 1994 (50 matches).

Springbok Squad vs Australia

Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls).

Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).