Baby Bok hopefuls to undertake scientific testing
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) revealed the names of 43 players that will participate in scientific and medical testing in Cape Town on Monday as the SA Under-20s begin preparations for next year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Italy.
The physical conditions of all players will be captured during this two-day camp while the medical team will conduct fitness tests which include bleep, conditioning and weight-lifting tests. The data captured from this testing opportunity will be used to monitor the physical and conditioning of players in the build up to the World Champs in June.
“It’s important that we expose our junior national teams to the very latest and up to date methods of training as we start preparations for the 2011 IRB Junior World Championships,” said Mervin Green, SARU Manager Playing the Game.
“We achieved bronze at our last three attempts at the international Under-20 competition, and it’s our intention at SARU that we better that position in the future. We constantly aim to offer our junior players the very best from a coaching view point, and this will include exposing our players to the latest methods in physical and conditioning training.”
The squad of 45 players includes several players who excelled during the recently concluded Absa Under-19 and Absa Under-21 Championships. Seventeen players named in the squad are from the Blue Bulls and Western Province Rugby Unions who competed in the finals of both competitions.
The players will be introduced to the newly appointed SA Under-20 coach Dawie Theron and will also be addressed by SARU CEO Jurie Roux.
“The SA Under-20 project plays an important role in SARU’s strategic aims and objects at game development, as this is a great stepping stone for our junior players into senior and professional rugby,” said Roux.
“Patrick Lambie and Elton Jantjies are examples of players that have participated in these structures and then within the same year, have the talent to graduate at national level. A player such as Patrick has already four Test caps for the Springboks, while Elton will represent the Boks against the Barbarians on Saturday.
“Every effort at SARU is aimed at ensuring that our junior national teams compete with the best preparation before the IRB Junior World Championship in Italy next year.”
Please note: SARU did not consider age-group players that are injured or those who are currently involved with their Super Rugby franchises pre-season training for these SA Under-20 testing.
SA Under-20 Testing squad – Blue Bulls: Pieter Van der Walt, Bradley Moolman, Tony Jantjies, Lohan Jacobs, Jose Julies, Stephan Pretorius, Mbongeni Mbonambi, Juan Schoeman; Free State: Riaan Britz, Pieter Rademan, Jean Cook, Bernard Van Heerden, Stephan Kotze; Golden Lions: Garth Lions, Botha Van Zyl; Kwazulu Natal: Jaco Van Tonder, Emile Schwartz, Piet Lindeque, Heimar Williams, Mandla Dube, Marcell Coetzee, Siseko Jaftha, Francois Kleinhans, Nicholas Dodgen, Mike Williams, Nicholas Schonnet, Leopards: Jacobus Lourens, Lucian Cupido, Cornell Du Preez, Gabriel Strydom, Jacque Pienaar, John-Roy Jenkinson, Armand van der Merwe, Moshudu Masela, Western Province: Sizo Maseko, Clarence Khumalo, William van Wyk, Ricky Schroeder, Siyamthanda Kolisi, Nizaam Carr, Eben Etzebeth, Wilhelm Van der Slys, Frans Malherbe.
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