Springbok Hilton Lobberts has been included in the Emerging Springboks squad to play in the IRB Nations Cup in Romania in June.
The Blue Bulls open side flank who has two Test caps behind his name was named in the 26-man squad on Wednesday evening.
Lobberts had strong claims for inclusion in the Springboks Test squad which was announced earlier on Wednesday.
Apart from Lobberts, the squad features two players, Howard Noble and Sangoni Mxoli, who helped the Emerging Boks to beat Romania, Georgia and Argentina A to lift the Nations Cup trophy in 2007.
The squad will be coached by the 1995 World Cup winning wing Chester Williams, who has yet to name a captain for the side. Western Province Vodacom Cup centre Morgan Newman looks to be a good bet to lead the side.
The former Bishops schoolboy and SA Under-20 cap showed excellent leadership skills when he captained the WP under-21 with distinction last season.
Earlier on Wednesday Newman was named in the Western Province side to play the Border Bulldogs in East London in a friendly on Saturday.
However, he will joining the Emerging Boks’ camp in Newlands on Friday morning instead. The squad was expected to include several players that were released from the Springbok training squad earlier on Wednesday.
However, strong objections from the Currie Cup unions saw that possibility ruled out. Instead, only flyhalf Isma-eel Dollie from the group of ‘discards’ graduated to the Emerging Springboks squad.
Boland loosehead Janro van Niekerk, who was a member of the Stormers squad earlier this year, will be out to bolster his profile in Romania in the hope of impressing the franchise selectors.
Lions lock Cobus Grobler will add much-needed grunt to the youthful pack. Coach Williams said the expectations were high as his team will be the defending champions at the event which kicks off on Wednesday 11 June, and ends on Friday 20 June.
The Boks will play matches against Georgia, Italy A and Romania.
“Our first goal will be to win the tournament and then we need to improve on last year’s performance,” said Williams.
“South African rugby sees this side as a feeder for the Springboks, and we would like the country to be as proud of us as they are of the World Cup champions.”
Williams said he would have liked see more of the Bok training squad players in the Emerging side.
“It’s a pity that it did not happen because the players have been working out with the Boks, and they could have added great value to our cause. “But there is talent in the squad,” said Williams.
“This team will be prepared to step up to the Springbok ranks in the next two or three years.
“It’s a wonderful challenge to work with players who represent the future of Springbok rugby.”
The squad will have its first work out on Friday afternoon.
The SA Emerging squad
Backs:
Justin St Jerry (Xerox Golden Lions), Sarel Pretorius (Wildeklawer Griquas), Isma-eel Dollie (Vodacom Western Province), Rocco Jansen (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Morgan Newman (Vodacom Western Province), Howard Noble (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs), Bjorn Basson (Wildeklawer Griquas), Joey Mongalo (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Lollo Waka (Leopards), Rudi Vogt (Pumas), Jody Rose (Xerox Golden Lions), Richard Lawson (Vodacom Western Province).
Forwards:
Janro van Niekerk (Boland Cavaliers), Greg van Jaarsveld (Border Bulldogs), Phillip Lemmer (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs), Kobus Grobler (Xerox Golden Lions), Hendrik Roodt (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Zolani Mofu (Boland Cavaliers), Hilton Lobberts (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Devon Raubenheimer (SWD Eagles), Jody Jenneker (Natal Wildebeest), Sangoni Mxoli (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Jacobie Adriaanse (Vodacom Western Province), Berend Botha (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Carel Hoffman (Vodacom Blue Bulls),
