SPRINGBOK scumhalf Grant Williams in among players that played for the SA A team in the early stages of their international careers.
Image: AFP
The South African ‘A’ team will make a welcome return to the rugby calendar when they line up against the Zimbabwe Sables as a curtain-raiser to the Springboks’ opening match of the season, against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on June 20, in a thrilling double header.
The last time the SA ‘A’ team took the field was during the 2022 Castle Lager Outgoing Tour against Munster and the Bristol Bears, and with the 2027 Rugby World Cup in sight for both the Springboks and the Sables – who qualified for the international spectacle for the first time since 1991 – the match will be a valuable hit-out for Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and his Zimbabwean counterpart, Pieter Benade.
While Erasmus will use the match to build squad depth, the encounter will provide Zimbabwe with a fantastic opportunity to test themselves against some of South Africa’s up-and-coming talent as they build toward the international extravaganza in Australia next year.
Erasmus was excited about the opportunity to see players from his wider Springbok squad, as well as others knocking on the door, take on their Zimbabwean counterparts.
“The match between the SA ‘A’ team and Zimbabwe will serve as a fantastic opportunity for both teams to achieve some of their objectives with the Rugby World Cup in mind, and from a South African point of view, we have seen the benefits of having an SA ‘A’ team playing against quality opposition,” said Erasmus.
“Players such as Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu), Ruan (Nortje), Grant (Williams), Aphelele (Fassi), and Elrigh (Louw), among others, all played for the team in the early stages of their international careers, and have become important members of our squad since, so this match will offer us another chance to give guys within our squad and others who have really put up their hands to prove what they can do against international opposition.
“We have done well to rotate our squad and give several players a chance in the last two seasons, but there are others who have performed really well outside of that group, who we would like to see in action, so we’ll be able to cast our net wider as we prepare for that encounter.”
Benade was equally thrilled about his charges facing the SA ‘A’ team and said: “We’re excited for the opportunity to test ourselves against one of the world’s top rugby nations and a truly elite system. It’s a challenge we embrace and one that promises to push our standards to another level.
“Experiences like this are invaluable, as they expose our players to the highest level of competition, accelerate their growth, and play a key role in the continued development of our squad. We’re looking forward to the lessons ahead and the chance to showcase our progress on the international stage.”
Erasmus, who hails from Despatch in the Eastern Cape, and who will celebrate his 30th anniversary in the Springbok set-up after being called up to the team’s tour of Argentina and Europe as a player in 1996, said the double-header would be a real season-opening treat for the province’s die-hard fans.
The SA ‘A’ game is scheduled to kick off at 12pm, and the match between the Springboks and the Barbarians at 3pm.
“It’s always great to return to the Eastern Cape, where the Boks enjoy immense support, and to have back-to-back matches play out at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will make the occasion of playing our first match of the year even more special,” he said.
The Springboks will host their second alignment camp in May, and Erasmus is set to name his squad for their official training camp in June, a few weeks later. The coach for the SA ‘A’ team will also be announced in due course.
Springbok fixtures in 2026:
International:
Saturday 20 June: Springboks v Barbarians and SA ‘A’ v Zimbabwe (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha)
Nations Championship:
Saturday 4 July: Springboks v England (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday 11 July: Springboks v Scotland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday 18 July: Springboks v Wales (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry:
Saturday 22 August: Springboks v All Blacks (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday 29 August: Springboks v All Blacks (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday 5 September: Springboks v All Blacks (FNB Stadium, Johannesburg)
Saturday 12 September: Springboks v All Blacks (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA)
Once-off Tests:
Saturday 8 August: Argentina v Springboks (Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires)
Sunday 27 September: Wallabies v Springboks (Optus Stadium, Perth)
Nations Championship:
Saturday 7 November: Italy v Springboks (Venue TBC)
Friday 13 November: France v Springboks (Stade de France, Paris)
Saturday 21 November: Ireland v Springboks (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November: Finals Weekend (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London)