WP loosie Paul de Villiers named Junior Springbok captain for World Rugby U20 Championship

Loose forward Paul de Villiers has been named Junior Springbok captain ahead of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.

The global showpiece, returning to the World Rugby calendar for the first time since 2019, kicks off in Cape Town, Paarl and Stellenbosch later this month.

SA Rugby confirmed the Junior Bok squad on Friday, with Western Province's De Villiers to lead the side and Bulls centre Katlego Letebele named as vice-captain. The duo represented South Africa in the Six Nations U20 Summer Series in Italy last year.

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Junior Springbok head coach, Bafana Nhleko, included Zachary Porthen, who captained the SA Schools side last year, alongside two more of his U18 teammates from 2022 in Litelihle Bester and JF van Heerden.

The coach also roped in Blitzbok speedster Masande Mtshali, who made his debut for the national sevens team earlier this season and played in four World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments.

The pool rounds are scheduled for 24 and 29 June, and 4 July, with the two playoff rounds on 9 and 14 July, when the final will take place at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town. 

Junior Springbok squad:

Props: Corne Lavagna (Bulls), Dian Heunis (Sharks), Mawande Mdanda (Bulls), Phatu Ganyane (Sharks), Zachary Porthen (Western Province)

Hookers: Juann Else (Bulls), SJ Kotze (Lions)

Locks: Coetzee le Roux (Sharks), Tiaan Wessels (Lions), JF van Heerden (Bulls)

Loose forwards: Abulele Ndabambi (Bulls), Corne Beets (Bulls), Gcinokuhle Mdletshe (Bulls), Ghudian van Reenen (Bulls), Jannes Potgieter (Sharks) Paul de Villiers (captain, Western Province)

Scrumhalves: Imad Khan (Western Province), Neil le Roux (Bulls)

Flyhalves: Jean Smith (Sharks), Sam Francis (Lions)

Centres: Dami