OK guys, before we go any further let’s just make something clear – these training camps are for pretty much anyone who has ever come within a sniff of being selected for the Boks, so let’s not get too wound up by some of the inclusions.

The selectors have named two squads of 44 players each, which includes 19 players who have never worn the green and gold and a number who are currently out injured. Whilst the players in each camp overlap heavily the Super Rugby commitments of the Sharks and the Bulls mean their players can only attend one camp each. This from Sport24:

The first camp, in Johannesburg, will run from May 3 to 6 and the second camp is scheduled for Cape Town from May 31 to June 3. The international season starts on July 11 with a match against a World XV in Cape Town.

Of the 19 uncapped players, 16 have been involved with the Springboks before, either as members of touring squads or at training or planning camps since 2012. The only new faces invited are Vincent Koch, Faf de Klerk and Cheslin Kolbe.

Yes Cheslin you little dynamo, show those oafs how it is done. Coach Heyneke Meyer stressed that the squad for the World Cup (which will be announced at the end of August) is still far from set in stone and players such as Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch and Jesse Kriel have played themselves into contention with some strong Super Rugby showings.

Here are the two training camps:

Johannesburg camp (Sharks on tour) – 3 to 6 May:

Forwards (26): Arno Botha, Ruan Botha, Heinrich Brüssow, Schalk Burger, Nizaam Carr, Robbie Coetzee, Lood de Jager, Jacques du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Dean Greyling, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Lappies Labuschagne, Frans Malherbe, Victor Matfield, Teboho Mohoje, Trevor Nyakane, Scarra Ntubeni, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pierre Spies, Adriaan Strauss, Marcel van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen, Warren Whiteley.

Backs (18): Bjorn Basson, Demetri Catrakilis, Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Faf de Klerk, Jean de Villiers, Cornal Hendricks, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Jesse Kriel, Pat Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lionel Mapoe, Rudy Paige, Handré Pollard, Jan Serfontein, Kobus van Wyk, Francois Venter.

Cape Town camp (Bulls on tour) – 31 May to 3 June:

Forwards (27): Willem Alberts, Ruan Botha, Heinrich Brüssow, Schalk Burger, Nizaam Carr, Marcell Coetzee, Robbie Coetzee, Lood de Jager, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean Deysel, Eben Etzebeth, Lizo Gqoboka, Ryan Kankowski, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Teboho Mohoje, Tendai Mtawarira, Scarra Ntubeni, Coenie Oosthuizen, Michael Rhodes, Duane Vermeulen, Warren Whiteley.

Backs (17): Demetri Catrakilis, Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Faf de Klerk, Jean de Villiers, Nic Groom, Cornal Hendricks, Elton Jantjies, Cheslin Kolbe, Pat Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lionel Mapoe, Lwazi Mvovo, JP Pietersen, Cobus Reinach, Kobus van Wyk, Francois Venter.

Give those names a good read-through and if you find some you don’t recognise don’t worry, you’re not alone.

[source:sport24]