SA Rugby has announced the national under 19-squad to defend it's world crown at the IRB U-19 World Championships to be held in April in Dubai.
The national selectors, convened by Peter Jooste, confirmed the team after the final trials were held over the weekend at the Brandvlei Correctional Services facility on the outskirts of Worcester in the Boland province.
Coach Eugene Eloff, who last year led his exciting young team to a pulsating championship win over the All Blacks in Durban, declared himself satisfied with the new crop of emerging talent.
"I am very impressed with the talent and commitment of the players that have been selected," says Eloff.
"The training camps have been quite tough and I am looking forward to the final camp in March as we prepare to defend our title."
The under 19 mentor also noted that the U19's had made incredible strides in transformation as the team comprises of 50 percent of black players chosen on merit.
The SA U19 team:
Conraad Britz (Western Province), Dabeon Draghoender (Eastern Province), Riacco Eilerd (Blue Bulls), Kirwan Frieslaar (Kwazulu-Natal), Hayden Groepes (Western Province), Lubabalo Gwavu (Blue Bulls), Conraad Hofmann (Western Province), Johan Jackson (Leopards), Christopher Juries (Eastern Province), Morne Jooste (Western Province), Divan Kapp (Golden Lions), Lehan Koekemoer (Golden Lions), Marlon Lewis (Blue Bulls), Mthunzi Mabeta (Blue Bulls),Hercules Venter (Golden Lions), Edgar Maruthule (Leopards), Pieter Meyer (Blue Bulls), Malungisa Nkosi (Kwazulu-Natal), Josephus Oosthuizen (Kwazulu-Natal), Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls), Jacques Rossouw (Western Province), Andre Smith (Golden Lions), Francois Steyn (Kwazulu-Natal), Musa Tukela (Border), Drew Van Coller (Free State), Petrus Vermeulen (Western Province).