South Africa have called up and coming players Nizaam Carr, Seabelo Senatla and Lizo Gqoboka for on and off-field sessions with the Springboks in Cape Town.
The trio will spend the next three days with the Springboks who are preparing for their final two matches in the Rugby Championship in Cape Town.
“They are three promising young players we’ve identified and we’d like to expose them to the Springbok ethos while also having a look at what they can do in training,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“Lizo has never played Bok Super Rugby and Seabelo has limited exposure to rugby at that level after making a massive impact for the Springbok Sevens team.”
Meyer said some of the young talent exposed to the Springbok culture over the last three years went on to represent the country.
Four members of the Young Guns squad in 2012 — Frans Malherbe, Siya Kolisi, Arno Botha and Piet van Zyl — have gone on to play Test rugby, Meyer said.
Jesse Kriel and Tera Mtembu had been invited to training sessions earlier this season.
“In the last three years we’ve often had young players train with us,” Meyer said.
“Although these players are not formally part of the Springbok squad, they get to experience what it takes at the top level and we get to work with them, even if it’s only for one or two sessions.”
The 21-year-old Springbok Sevens star Senatla has been a revelation since making his Currie Cup debut for Western Province this season.
Senatla is currently returning from an injury and will spend the next three days in the Springbok camp, but will not take part in any field sessions.
Carr, 23, whose versatility as a loose forward has seen him become a fixture for the Stormers and Western Province this season, will train with the Springboks on Monday afternoon.
EP Kings loosehead prop Gqoboka, who is 24-years old, will join the Springbok squad for the day on Wednesday.
He has impressed in his first season of Currie Cup Premier Division rugby.
“We know the provinces are in the middle of a rigorous Currie Cup campaign and we appreciate their assistance in granting Nizaam, Seabelo and Lizo the opportunity to work with us. We are planning to do the same in Johannesburg next week,” said Meyer.
