The latest Springbok squad will depart this weekend for their end-of-year tour which kicks off against Japan at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 1 November.
The travelling party will leave for London in groups from their respective franchises and clubs on Saturday and Sunday.
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The tour will see the reigning world champions face Japan, France, Italy, Ireland, and Wales in what promises to be a challenging five-Test campaign.
Springboks’ 2025 End-of-Year Tour Fixtures
- 1 November – vs Japan, Wembley Stadium, London – 18:10 (SA time)
- 8 November – vs France, Stade de France, Paris, – 22:10 (SA time)
- 15 November – vs Italy, Allianz Stadium, Turin – 14:40 (SA time)
- 22 November – vs Ireland, Aviva Stadium, Dublin – 19:40 (SA time)
- 29 November – vs Wales, Principality Stadium, Cardiff – 17:10 (SA time)
Rassie Erasmus ready for ‘tough but exciting’ challenge
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said the squad is relishing the opportunity to regroup after a demanding year.
“It’s a longer tour than usual, and we are facing top-class opposition, but we are looking forward to it,” Erasmus said.
“Ireland and France are currently ranked third and fourth in the world, while Italy, Wales and Japan are also improving fast. We’ve seen that you cannot write off any team.”
Erasmus noted that both Ireland and France enjoyed strong Six Nations campaigns this year – each winning four of their five matches – and said the Springboks would need to be at their best on European soil.
“Japan have beaten us before, Italy pushed us hard in Pretoria earlier this year, and Wales are showing signs of resurgence. It’s going to be a very competitive tour,” he added.
The tour is viewed as a vital step in the Springboks’ preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, giving Erasmus and his coaching team the chance to test squad depth and combinations against some of the world’s best.
Late changes?
Erasmus had selected 36 players (21 forwards and 15 backs) in his 36-man touring squad as well as 10 players on a standby list.
However, front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels (36-man squad) and Makazole Mapimpi (standby list) where on Wednesday banned for five and nine weeks, respectively, for indiscretions during last weekend’s United Rugby Championship (URC) matches.
Those bans ruled the duo out of the Springboks’ end-of-year tour, much to Erasmus’s anger.
At the time of publishing, no replacements had been named.
Springbok touring squad
Forwards
Lood de Jager, Ben-Jason Dixon, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Johan Grobbelaar, Jean Kleyn, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Zachary Porthen, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels *, Jasper Wiese
Backs
Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Handré Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe, Damian Willemse, Grant Williams
Standby players
Forwards
Juarno Augustus, Neethling Fouché, Bongi Mbonambi, Salmaan Moerat, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Evan Roos, Vincent Tshituka
Backs
Lukhanyo Am, Sebastian de Klerk, Makazole Mapimpi *
*denotes banned
