Baby Boks road to JWC begins

Cape Town - The process to select the under-20 squad to represent South Africa at the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship in New Zealand will begin on Sunday, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) have said on Tuesday.

This will be when the expanded training group gathers in Stellenbosch for an intensive two-month training camp, SARU said in a statement.

The group, consisting of almost 70 of the country's most promising under-20 players, will play trial matches starting on Monday, in Stellenbosch.

After the trials, the squad will be reduced to about 40 players.

The Junior World Championship will be held in Auckland from June 2 to 20.

South African under-20 coach Dawie Theron and members of the SA Rugby Union Mobi-Unit will guide the players through a series of planning, field and conditioning sessions before a short break for the Easter holidays.

Saru will then announce the SA under-20 squad of 28 players on April 22.

The training camp will feature two trial matches, daily training, conditioning and strategic planning sessions, as well as a three-match international series against the Argentina under-20 side.

Andr Esterhuizen (Sharks), Handr Pollard and Jessie Kriel (Bulls) were not considered for the training camp because of Super Rugby commitments.

The following players will assemble in Stellenbosch on Sunday:

Blue Bulls: Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Dan Kriel, Pierre Schoeman, Duncan Mathews, JP Smith, Corniel Els, Wilco Louw, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Abongile Nonkontwana, Arno van Wyk, Leighton van Wyk, Janse van Rensburg, RG Snyman, Heinrich Viljoen, Kobus Marais, Warrick Gelant, Ganfried May, Marcus Kleinbooi, Chris Massyn, Nqoba Mxoli

Golden Lions: Malcolm Marx, Michael Hazner, Ramone Samuels, Jaco van der Walt, Jano Venter, Thabo Mabuza, Victor Sisekete, Christiaan Meyer, Pieter Scholtz, Stephan Vermeulen, Cyle Brink, Dylan Smith, Kock Marx

Griquas: Hillford Clarke

Leopards: Dean Stokes, Lloyd Greeff

Free State: Ox Nche, Joseph Dweba, Mthokozisi Mkhabela, Nicolaas Lee

EP Kings: Aidon Davis, Sergeal Petersen

Sharks: Thomas du Toit, Gideon Koegelenberg, Chris de Beer, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Dan du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez, Neil Maritz, Sandile Khubeka, Cameron Wright, Ayron Schramm, Ray Williams, Sias Koen, Alrin Eksteen

Western Province: JD Schickerling, Jacques Vermeulen, Ernst Stapelberg, Daniel du Plessis, Jarryd Sage, SP Ferreira, Justin Phillips, Dewald Naude, Chad Solomon, Frans van Wyk, Jan Uys, EW Viljoen, Rikus Bothma