The South African Rugby Union has confirmed the names of 196 young players who have been selected for national high-performance squads following a selection process in the wake of the Coca-Cola Youth Weeks.

The youngsters have been inducted into special training and assessment regimes as part of the SARU’s High Performance programme to prepare them for national representative age-grade rugby and for graduation to senior rugby.

All the players will be assisted in developing their physical conditioning, nutrition and rugby-playing skills. Ninety six were selected from the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week and 98 from the Coca-Cola Craven Week.

“Our national selectors and age-group selectors elected the most talented players from both tournaments,” said Herman Masimla, SARU’s high performance manager. “There are definitely future Springboks among these young players. The objective now is to assist them in developing their core rugby abilities before they graduate to the senior rugby level.”

The players have been placed on two-year programmes while a separate programme for Under-20 players will run for one year. The U20 players have yet to be selected.

“Players will remain in the squad for their age-group cycle at the end of which they will be eligible for selection to the next squad,” said Masimla. “Players who miss selection at this stage may therefore be selected for later elite squads.”

Masimla warned: “With the privilege of selection to a high-performance squad comes responsibility. A player will be removed from the squad if he shows poor discipline such as failing to attend assessments or breaching the SARU code of conduct.”

Players in the high-performance squads will undergo two assessments per year. The results will be recorded on a national performance database to enable analysts to monitor high-performance squad players and determine statistical trends over time. The database will also give selectors of national teams access to reliable data on which to base their decisions.

SARU National Elite Squads

UNDER-18s

Blue Bulls: Richmon Collins, Katlego Magakwa, Solomozi Sotsaka, Sibongile Njomba, Andries Gerreira, Maurice Sibiya.

Boland: Garth April, Clayton Blommetjies, Sampie Mastriet, Fredeick Muller, Adri Jacobs, Berton Klaasen, Dean Swart, Andries Millard, Vincent Koch.

Border: Robert Alers, Sibusiso Sithole, Sinovuyo Nyoka, Lubabalo Mtembu, Sonwabiso September.

Eastern Province: Kurt Coleman, Chuma Faas, Siyamthanda Kolisi, Maurice Rudman, Zolani Faku, Emile Klaasen, Lwando Mabenge.

Eastern Province Country Districts: Hanro Louw.

Griffons: Siyasanga Mkunku, Christiano Swarts, Peet Marais, Eugene Cunha.

Griquas: Schalk van der Merwe, Jan Zwiegelaar, Thabiso Mngomezulu.

Free State: Nicolaas Britz, Chejana Mallane, Vuyisani Gobingca, Jacobus Venter, Cornelius du Toit, Pieter Rademan, Andries Theisinger, Evert  Fourie, Sonwabile Limani, Jean Cook, Stephanus Pretorius, Stephan Kotze, John-Henry Harris, Vuyisani Gobingca.

KwaZulu-Natal: Patrick Lambie, Ruan Combrink, Allen Zungu, Robert de Bruyn, Sigongiseni Kunene, Brynard Stander, Francois Kleinhans, Njabulo Mkize, Shaun Malton, Monde Hadebe.

Leoaprds: Louis Fouche, Carel Greeff.

Limpopo: Nhlanganiso Sibanda, Rinus Riekert.

Golden Lions: Wandile Mjekevu, Jacob Taute, Divan Ferguson, Andre Jantjies, Ben Sekgobela, Petrus Uys.

Mpumalanga: Clearance Khumalo, Abednego Mamushi, Sizophila Maseko, Gary Van Aswegen, Etienne Greeff.

SWD: Jaco van Tonder, Daniel Acker, Christiaan Stander, Albertus De Swardt, Aden  Jones, Neil Kapp, Garrick Matthee, Joahnnes Gericke, Marius Fourie.

Valke: Juan-Pierre Van Rooyen.

Western Province: Tythan Adams, Johannes Potgieter, Louis Schreuder, Reuben Johannes, Nizaam Carr, Heinrich Marcus, Helmut Lehmann, Daniel Hugo, Johan Schoonbee, Marcel Van Der Merwe, Jozua Malherbe, Johan Julyan, Gareth Topkin, Ruan-Henry Smith.

UNDER-16s

Blue Bulls: Leroy Africa, Johan Bester, Duren Fillies, Hwan Lee, James Marx, Reinhard Nel, Byron Noemdoe, Mathys Smit, Morne van den Berg, Eckard Wallis.

Boland: John Durr, Winslow February, Maree Kotze.

Border: Ofentse Boloko, Allan Dell, Sinjin Greyvenstein, Andile Jho, Bangihlombe Kobese, Mbuso Manzi, Khwezi Mona, Lonwabo Ntleki, Aphiwe Tokwe.

Border Country Districts: Xola Makolima, Likhona Xholo.

Eastern Province: Frans Botha, Nelia Claasen, Heinich Douglas, Asanda Modise.

Free State: Leneve Damens, Johannes Goosen, Paul Jordaan, Kevin Luiters, Jacobus Nel,

William Small-Smith, Tshepiso Thithi, Hendrik Venter.

Griffons: Emmanuel Banda, Lushiano James, Teboho Mofokeng, Rewaan Rodgers.

Griquas: Herman Groenewald, Neo Masenge, Johan Myburgh.

KwaZulu-Natal: Jason Klaasen, Andile Mtshali, Nhlanhla Ngcamu, Siphesihle Ngubane, Mondli Ntshingila, Albert Smith.

Leopards: Okert Labuschagne, Paballo Mohapi, Ettienne Oosthuizen, Vernon Prinsloo, Barend Swanepoel.

Limpopo: Ashwin Lawrence, Ngoako Raselalome, Albertus van der Merwe, Lieb van Tonder, Hencus van Wyk.

Golden Lions: Kojo Asiedu-Darkwan, Fabian Booysens, Wian Fourie, Altonio Jantjies, Christiaan Kazadi, David Schmidt, Viaan van der Watt, Justin van Wyk, Willem Viljoen.

Mpumalanga: Otavio Fortuin, Neil Jordaan, Mcebo Khumalo, Nkululeko Ngoza, Johannes Scheepers.

Mpumalanga XV: Sibusiso Chulayo, Buhle Nkosi, Gerhardus Terblanche.

SWD: Jaco Arendse, Rudi Boshoff, Nico du Plessis, Bradley Hollenbach, Jerome Klaase, Hendri Rust.

Valke: Ruan Barnard, Johannes Brummer, Katlego More.

Western Province: Craig Barry, Joel Carew, Gavin Hauptfleisch, Errol Jaggers, Gerhard Jordaan, Sikho Langa, Tshotsho Mbovane, Jacobus Smith, Pieter Stemmet, Kelvin Stoman, Mvuyisi Tundube.

ISSUED BY SA RUGBY