Who are the 10 Uncapped Springboks in Rassie Erasmus' latest squad?

There are plenty of exciting talents to discuss, and in this article we are taking a look at all of the as yet uncapped green and gold hopefuls. The Summer international window has long been a proving ground for the top young talents, and this incoming July looks no different for Rassie Erasmus' Springboks.

South Africa are set for a stacked Summer, with three home clashes in the Nations Championship booked in against England, Scotland and Wales. This is then followed by the All Blacks tour of South Africa, which is set to replace the Rugby Championship for 2026. New Zealand will take on the country's resident URC franchises (Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions), before a blockbuster three-match series with the Boks.

Whilst the 40-man squad that was announced today is not the definitive list for the incoming Nations Championship, it does provide some excellent insight into what we may expect from the Springboks this Summer. Here's a run down of the 10 uncapped players that were called up today, with two hopefuls set for their first senior environment of Rassie Erasmus' camp.

Paul de Villiers arrives in Rassie Erasmus’ alignment camp as one of the most polished back-row prospects to emerge from the Western Province system in recent years. Born in George and schooled at Oakdale, the Stormers flanker has followed a steady rise through the age-grade pathway, captaining South Africa U20 in 2023 after two seasons in the system.

A product of the WP academy, de Villiers made his professional breakthrough in the 2023 Currie Cup before stepping into the Stormers environment in the United Rugby Championship. While still early in his senior career, his leadership credentials and breakdown intelligence have already marked him out as a player trusted beyond his years.

His time with the Junior Springboks included a leadership role that highlighted his composure and work rate rather than headline-grabbing flair. De Villiers is the type of modern flanker who thrives in the unseen detail, with outstanding tackle volume, ruck accuracy, and defensive organisation. With the Stormers continuing to produce high-end loose forwards, his inclusion in the national camp feels like a natural next step in a carefully managed development arc.

Few players in this group arrive with a storyline quite as compelling as Batho Hlekani. Hailing from Zwide—the same township that produced Springboks captain Siya Kolisi—the young lock/flanker has risen rapidly through school rugby at Graeme College before being snapped up by the Sharks system.

Physically imposing at 193cm and 115kg, Hlekani blends second-row power with back-row mobility, making him one of the more versatile forwards in the Lions’ emerging pack after his move in 2026.

He featured prominently for South Africa U20 across 2024 and 2025, earning 16 caps and establishing himself as a high-impact carrier and lineout option. His performances at junior level were consistently eye-catching, particularly his ability to break games open with momentum-shifting carries.

After progressing through Sharks age-grade and Currie Cup rugby, his switch to the Lions has already paid early dividends, including a standout debut that underlined his physical readiness for senior rugby. At just 21, Hlekani represents exactly the type of raw, powerful forward South African rugby continues to produce and refine into Test level athletes.

Francke Horn is the definition of a homegrown Lions leader who has grown into responsibility the hard way. A product of the fabled Paarl Boys’ High, he has developed into a dynamic and physically dominant number eight, now captaining the Lions to their best run to date in the United Rugby Championship.

Horn’s senior breakthrough came in 2020, and his leadership qualities were quickly recognised. Horn captained the Lions against the British & Irish Lions in 2021, in what was a rare honour for such a young forward, who rose to the once every 12-year occasion to battle the world famous touring side.

Built on power, leg drive, and a relentless work rate, Horn is not the flashiest loose forward in South Africa, but he is one of the most dependable. His influence at the base of the scrum and in close-quarter carrying has made him central to the Lions’ forward identity, and their current space in the URC play-off places.

Now approaching his peak years, his inclusion in the national alignment camp feels like recognition of consistency rather than potential alone. For a Bok setup that values physical control and structure in the loose trio, Horn offers a reliable, hardened option who has already been tested at the highest levels of franchise rugby.

Siba Mahashe is one of the quieter breakout stories in South African rugby, but one of the most intriguing. A former Border Craven Week standout from Hudson Park High, he has steadily built his reputation through leadership at every junior level.

Mahashe captained South Africa Schools and later the Lions U21s, showing early signs of tactical maturity and emotional control beyond his years. His pathway through the Lions academy and SA Rugby structures has been deliberate, with his steady development prioritised over rapid elevation.

Comfortable at flanker or number eight, Mahashe offers versatility rather than brute force alone. His game is built on timing, defensive reading, and linking play, in qualities that translate well into modern Test rugby systems. His senior debut in 2026 marked the next step in a carefully managed rise, and his immediate integration into the Lions first team environment suggests strong internal belief in his long-term ceiling.

Mahashe may not yet be a headline name, but he is exactly the type of forward who often transitions quietly into international rugby before becoming indispensable.

Riley Norton is one of the most fascinating dual-sport stories in South African rugby. A former South Africa U19 cricketer, Norton only fully committed to rugby after captaining the Junior Springboks to World U20 Championship success in 2025.

Standing 6’5” and operating at lock, Norton combines athleticism with natural leadership. His decision to prioritise rugby over cricket was a major turning point—one that has already paid off with rapid progression into the Stormers senior environment.

Educated at Stellenbosch University and developed through Western Province, Norton’s rise has been steep but controlled. His captaincy at U20 level highlighted a calm presence in high-pressure environments, as well as strong set-piece fundamentals. Still awaiting a full URC breakthrough, his inclusion in the national alignment camp reflects long-term projection rather than immediate selection readiness.

South African rugby has a strong history of late-blooming locks, and Norton fits that mould—tall, mobile, and technically sound, with leadership already embedded in his game.

Haashim Pead enters the Springbok conversation as one of the most explosive young scrum-halves in world rugby. A product of Bo-Kaap rugby and Schotsche Kloof Walmers RFC, Pead’s rise has been fuelled by speed, instinct, and creativity around the base.

His defining moment came at the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship, where he was named Player of the Tournament after finishing as the competition’s top try scorer and breaking records for metres gained at scrum-half. That performance alone pushed him into senior national contention.

Comfortable controlling tempo or injecting chaos, Pead offers a rare dual-threat profile at nine, with unpredictable danger around the fringes, but also highly composed in structured attack.

His transition into senior rugby with the Lions has been enjoyable to watch, but the talent ceiling is undeniable. Already training with senior Springbok squads, he is viewed internally as a long-term successor profile in the scrum-half pipeline. If his U20 performances are anything to go by, Pead is not just a prospect in green and gold, he is a game-breaker waiting for the right time to shine.

Zekhethelo Siyaya is one of the most exciting young fullback prospects emerging from the Sharks system. A product of Westville Boys’ High, he has rapidly progressed through Craven Week, SA Schools selection, and Junior Bok representation, with the South African online rugby space buzzing about his call-up.

A modern back-three player, Siyaya thrives under the high ball while offering genuine attacking threat with ball in hand. His acceleration and positional versatility have already seen him used across the back three, whilst also being a capable hand at fly-half to boot.

His Sharks debut against the Ospreys in the URC in 2026 marked a major milestone, with the youngster immediately showing composure against seasoned opposition. Coaches have praised his adaptability and willingness to play multiple roles in backline structures.

Still only 18, Siyaya represents the next wave of Sharks outside backs, following a strong tradition of producing athletic, multi-skilled fullbacks. His alignment camp selection is less about immediate Test readiness and more about exposing him to elite systems early, in an approach South African rugby has increasingly embraced, looking no further than Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's rise to stardom.

Emmanuel Tshituka’s journey is one of persistence and steady development. Originally from the Lions system, the Congolese-born flanker has rebuilt his career at the Sharks alongside his brother Vincent, adding depth and physicality to their loose forward stocks.

A product of Wits University rugby and Varsity Cup development, Tshituka is a high-work-rate forward who thrives in contact-heavy exchanges. His ability to play across the back row has made him a valuable rotational option in the URC and Champions Cup squads for the Sharks this season.

After making over 50 appearances for the Lions, his move to Durban has added a new dimension to his game, particularly in defensive organisation and breakdown pressure. Now entering his mid-20s, Tshituka is less of a raw prospect and more of a late-blooming contender pushing into the international conversation. His selection in the alignment camp reflects the depth South Africa continues to build in its back row, particularly among physical, hybrid forwards capable of covering multiple roles.

Nicknamed “Weapon X” for his explosive and relentless style, Henco van Wyk is already one of the most talked-about young centres in South African rugby. A Junior Springbok standout and former SA U18 Sevens star, he has built a reputation as a high-impact outside centre with genuine Test potential.

A product of Monument High School, van Wyk’s rise has been rapid, earning Junior Springbok Player of the Year honours and transitioning quickly into URC rugby with the Lions. His game is built on aggression in both attack and defence. He carries hard, defends even harder, and consistently breaks the gainline in midfield exchanges. That physical edge has made him a real fan favourite down in Johannesburg.

Despite his age, he already has significant senior experience, with over 50 Lions appearances and growing influence in big-match environments. His alignment camp selection reflects the continued search for midfield power in South African rugby, particularly players capable of combining size with skill in the modern 13 channel.

Jaco Williams rounds out the group as one of the most exciting attacking backs in the Sharks system. A versatile wing that can also cover at fullback, Williams has progressed through Glenwood High, Craven Week, and Sharks academy pathways before breaking into senior rugby in both the Currie Cup and URC.

His pace and finishing ability have stood out at junior level, but it is his composure in transition play that has accelerated his rise. Comfortable under the high ball and dangerous in broken field situations, Williams fits the modern South African back-three mould.

After scoring on his first senior start against the Stormers, Williams backed this up with a brace against the Cape Town side the very following week. He quickly earned recognition from national selectors and was included in the Springbok alignment camp later that year. Still early in his career, Williams represents the next wave of Sharks outside backs, athletic, instinctive, and capable of turning half-chances into tries.