SA Rugby has announced two Under-17 Elite Player Development (EPD) squads for boys and girls, who will attend national training camps at Boland Landbou near Paarl and Delsma Farm in Riebeek Kasteel from Saturday, 28 November to Friday, 4 December.
The two national age-group squads were selected following an extensive talent identification process conducted throughout the season.
“These camps form an important part of SA Rugby's national player pathway and will give some of the country's most promising young rugby players the opportunity to experience a high-performance environment,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby.
“Players will also be exposed to national coaching structures and development programmes. The camps will focus on rugby-specific development, player education, athletic development, and the values needed to succeed within South Africa's high-performance system.”
The EPD programme remains a key part of SA Rugby's long-term talent strategy. It is designed to identify, support and develop promising young players at an early age as they progress through the national pathway.
Thirteen members of the boys’ squad represented the SA Schools or U18 sides earlier this year and will attend the camp: Clement Makelele, Iglesias Bruiners, Ruben Lombard, Siphesihle Marule, Luniko Marivate, Neil du Randt, Werner de Bruin, Rufagon Hendricks, Ruan Fluks, Rhandzu Mkhabela, Albert Nel, Bulelani Cebani, and Nala Shabangu.
Furthermore, De Bruin, Siphesihle Marule, Thubelihle Marule, Albert Nel, Dandre Brink, Rosco Williams, Darnell Delport, and Kingsley Pule recently represented the SA U17 Sevens team at the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, where they won the silver medal.
In addition, three players in the extended squad attended the U16 EPD camp in September. They are Lehakoe Mokoena, Langelihle Mthethwa, and Bokang Mabina. A further 33 members of the squad attended the 2025 U16 EPD camp, underlining the strength and continuity of the programme.
Among the girls selected, the success of SA Rugby's development pathway is reflected in the progression of eight players from the U17 programme into the SA U18 Girls squad, which is why the camp squad is smaller than in the past. They are Rethabile Kubequ, Palesa Nqadini, Imange Norayase, Liyabona Kali, Chariva Visagie, Zeyaan Majiet, Surrender Chauke and Raylee Phathakge.
In addition, seven SA Schools Girls representatives have been included in the U17 EPD camp squad: Iminathi Nkwandla, Tatum-Joy Kaboni, Kungawo Hlalukana, Inathi Nxiweni, Liyema Gawuliswazi, Mia Kanka, and Buncwane Komani.
Oberholzer added that the camps represented a significant investment in the future of South African rugby: “The EPD programme is one of the most important pillars in our rugby development system because it allows us to identify talented young players early and expose them to the standards, expectations and opportunities that exist within the national pathway.”
According to Oberholzer, the strength of the programme was evident in the number of players already earning national recognition at school and junior representative level: “It is particularly encouraging to see so many players in this group who have already represented South Africa through SA Schools, the SA U18 programme and our sevens structures. That reflects the quality of talent emerging across the country and the effectiveness of the pathway.”
The SA U17 Boys EPD squad (name of province and high school in brackets):
Props: Andre van Wyk (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein), Frans-Paul Troskie (Free State, Grey College), Clement Makelele (Sharks, Kearsney College), Thomas Meyer (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium), Ruben Lombard (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein), Tunga Griffiths (Sharks, Kearsney College), Langelihle Mthetwa (Sharks, Michaelhouse), Solam Gegana (Western Province, Wynberg)
Hookers: Lehakoe Mokoena (Blue Bulls, Pretoria Boys High), Iglesias Bruiners (Sharks, Durban High School), Rorke Stirke (Sharks, Westville)
Locks: Jan-Franco du Plessis (Golden Lions, Noordheuwel), Bulelani Cebani (Sharks, Durban High School), Rocco Buchanan (Western Province, Stellenberg), Hanco van Geelen (Golden Lions, Monument), Lwango Ntantala (Sharks, Hilton College), Lincoln Zietsman (South Western Districts, Outeniqua), James Swart (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium)
Loose forwards: Caleb Pretorius (Blue Bulls, Affies), Siphesihle Marule (Pumas, Uplands College), Aobakwe Moeng (Sharks, Durban High School), Luhan Hattingh (Western Province, Paarl Boys’ High), Joniel Claasen (Boland, HTS Drostdy), Franklin Stevens (Griquas, Diamantveld), Thubelihle Marule (Pumas, Uplands College), Nala Shabangu (Sharks, Northwood), Corne Ferreira (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium), Luniko Marivate (Eastern Province, Kingswood College), Neil du Randt (Free State, Grey College), Werner de Bruin (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium)
Scrumhalves: Wernard De Villiers (Boland, HTS Drostdy), Jordan Forbes (Golden Lions, Monument), Rufagon Hendricks (South Western Districts, Outeniqua), Tristan Armitage (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium)
Flyhalves: Ruan Fluks (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein), Bokang Mabina (Golden Lions, St Johns), Daniel Miskey (Sharks, Kearsney College), Tanwill Onkers (Sharks, Durban High School)
Centres: Anfred Jansen (Eastern Province, Grey High School), Elgenio Oersen (Sharks, Glenwood), Albert Nel (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium), Blessing Manoreng (Golden Lions, Monument), Leonard Buys (Griquas, Diamantveld), Sterlin Padi (Sharks, Durban High School), Joshua Swart (Western Province, Stellenberg)
Outside backs: Kingsley Pule (Free State, Grey College), Ranzvi Mkhabela (Pumas, Nelspruit), De Waal Viviers (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium), Dandre Brink (Blue Bulls, Affies), Cayden Samuels (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium), Ray-Nathin van Kolver (Golden Lions, Monument), Rosco Williams (Sharks, Glenwood), Darnell Delport (South Western Districts, Outeniqua), Liam Jacobs (Western Province, Stellenberg), Dante Davids (Western Province, Paarl Boys’ High)
The following additional players from SACS (Western Province) were selected but are unable to attend due to school commitments: Luca Orgill, Jake Dave, James Sale.
The SA U17 Girls EPD squad (name of high school in brackets):
Props: Moratiwa Thandolwenkosi Hlakanyana (Krugersdorp), Endinako Fetumane (Ngangelizwe), Amahle Sibobi (Mowat Park), Soyisa Ncera (Wongalethu), Ludumo Precious Mpilenhle Maphanga (Lowveld)
Hookers: Alwandle Ngcobo (Umlazi Comprehensive Technical), Iminathi Nkwandla (Sophumelela), Ruth Musawenkosi Pobana (Tsholomnqa)
Locks: Magriet de Klerk (DF Akademie), Marone Potgieter (Adamantia), Ntwariso Ntuli (Almont Technical), Kungawo Hlalukana (Silimela), Sinentlahla Sezelwa (Kalalo Junior Secondary)
Loose forwards: Tsakani Chauke (KwaBhekilanga Secondary), Inathi Hlumela Nxiweni (Athlone), Nohlanhla Thubani (Phateng Secondary), Nokuthula Dube (Kgomotso Secondary), Larissa Kriel (Leeuwenhof Akademie), Erin Ogram (Richardsbaai), Nosihle Zama Ntuli (Madlenkosi), Asisipho Gxasheka (St John's College), Liyema Gawuliswazi (Tsholomnqa), Elihle Sontsethe (Dalibaso), Brumilda Fitzgerald (Middellande Secondary), Onthatile Randzu Hlatshwayo (Lowveld), Cristelle Titus (Kenhardt), Agnes Oarabile Maoka (Northern Academy)
Scrumhalves: Jenicke Orsmond (Waterkloof), Alice Ncube (KwaBhekilanga Secondary), Mia Kay Kanka (Rusthof), Noxolo Angel Nxumalo (AD Nkosi Secondary)Kelly Shay Newman (Groenberg)
Flyhalves: Ndoniyethu Kuhlekonke Ngcobo (Dabeka Secondary), Danrica Jehoma (Simon's Town), Anesipho Pita (Tsholomnqa)
Centres: Amangile Mbonolukhuni (Tyelinzima), Hayzel van Neel (Saul Damon), Azraa Landor (Manenberg)
Outside backs: Tess-Lee Standers (Groenberg Secondary), Elizka le Grange (Mossel Bay), Tatum-Joy Kaboni (George), Letticia Prins (Scottsville / St Thomas Secondary), Buncwane Komani (Bongolethu), Karabo Sefatsa (St Anne's Combined Schools)