South Africa A national rugby union team

South Africa A
	South Africa 'A' logo
Union	SA Rugby
Nickname(s)	SA A; South Africa A; Springboks 2nds; Springboks XV; Emerging Springboks
Emblem	Springbok
Coach	Mzwandile Stick (2026)
Captain	Vincent Tshituka (2026)
Most caps	Joseph Dweba (4); Jean-Luc du Preez (4); Thomas du Toit (4); Sanele Nohamba (4); (Modern era)
Top scorer	Yaqeen Ahmed (11); (Modern era)
Most tries	Aphelele Fassi (2); (Modern era)
Team kit	Change kit
First international
	SA 'A 42-00 Argentina ; (July 16, 1932)
Largest win
	SA 'A 40-00 Zimbabwe ; (20 June 2026); (Modern era)
Largest defeat
	SA 'A 14-28 Munster ; (10 Nov 2022); (Modern era)

South Africa 'A' are the second national rugby union team representing South Africa, below the senior national team, the Springboks.^[1] The South Africa 'A side was formerly known as the Junior Springboks or the Emerging Springboks until 2018, it was also under the South Africa Under-20 team in the country's rugby hierarchy, but World Rugby changed its regulations to prohibit unions from designating an U20 team as its second 15-a-side team.

History

They competed in the Nations Cup in 2007 and 2008 alongside the full national teams of Namibia, Romania and Georgia as well as Argentina Jaguars and Italy A. They also sporadically play touring sides such as the British and Irish Lions.

The team is made up of players of all ages and is not a youth side. It is used most recently to give potential Springboks a taste of international rugby or to give experienced Springboks playing time to improve fitness or form. ^[2]

Modern era

In the professional era, South Africa 'A has operated as a secondary national side that is assembled on an occasional basis rather than competing in a regular competition. The team is used by the South African Rugby Union to provide playing opportunities for a wider group of players within the national system, including uncapped players and established Springboks returning from injury or seeking match fitness. ^[3]

Since the 2010s, appearances by South Africa 'A have been relatively infrequent, with squads selected primarily for specific tours or matches against visiting international teams and professional clubs. One of the most notable recent uses of the side came during the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour, when a South Africa 'A team featuring a large number of Test players defeated the British & Irish Lions in Cape Town. ^[4]

Results

2026

20 November 2026
12:00 SAST

South Africa 'A	40-00	Zimbabwe
Try: Ahmed 16' c Muller 20' c Pead 30' c Steyn 55' c Khan 67' c Williams 81' m Con: Ahmed (3/3) 17', 21', 31' Giliomee (2/3) 56', 67' Cards: Ahmed 54'	Report

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha, South Africa
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron , (South Africa)

2022

17 November 2022
19:30 GMT

Bristol Bears	28-14	South Africa 'A
Try: Ibitoye 31' c Thomas 57' c Con: Sheedy (2/2) 32', 58' Pen: Sheedy (4/4) 15', 24', 51', 66'	Report	Try: Mchunu 47' m Notshe 77' c Con: Goosen (1/2) 78' Pen: Mngomezulu 2', 19' Cards: Jenkins 22'

Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol, England
Referee: Gianluca Gnecch

10 November 2022
19:30 GMT

Munster	28-14	South Africa 'A
Try: Daly 2' c Zebo 28' c Barron 38' c Haley 42' c Con: Healy (4/4) 3', 30', 39', 43' Cards: O'Connor 59'	Report	Try: Fassi 12' c Notshe 60' c Con: Goosen (2/2) 13', 60'

Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork, Ireland
Referee: Karl Dickson

2021

17 July 2021
13:00 SAST (UTC+02)

South Africa 'A	14-17	Blue Bulls
Try: Fassi 11' c Simelane 37' c Con: Jantjies (2/2) 11', 39' Cards: Simelane 17'	Report	Try: Johannes 65' c Grobbelaar 67' c Con: Goosen (2/2) 66', 68' Pen: Smith (1/1) 75'

DHL Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizenr (South Africa)

14 July 2021
20:00 SAST (UTC+02)

South Africa 'A	17-13	British & Irish Lions
Try: Nkosi 12' c Am 31' c Con: Steyn (2/2) 14', 33' Pen: Steyn (1/1) 6' Cards: van Staden 39' de Klerk 41'	Report	Try: Jones 43' c Con: Farrell (1/1) 44' Pen: Farrell (2/2) 27', 51'

Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

2017

23 June 2017

South Africa A	48-28	French Barbarians
Try: Gelant 1' c, 80' Cloete 19' c, 41' c Nche 30' c Mapoe 51' c Con: Zeilinga (5/5) 2', 20', 31', 42', 52' Vermaak (1/1) 81' Pen: Zeilinga (2) Cards: Botha 38'	Report	Try: Dupont 4' c Estebanez 27' c Tauleigne 55' c Dupichot 78' c Con: Michalak (3/3) 5', 28', 56' Belleau (1/1) 79' Cards: Dubié 40'

Orlando Stadium, Soweto, South Africa
Referee: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa)

16 June 2017

South Africa A	36-28	French Barbarians
Try: Mvovo (2) Mapimpi Notshe Vorster (2)	Report

Moses Mabhida, Durban, South Africa

2016

17 June 2016
19:10 SAST (UTC+02)

South Africa A	26–29	England A
Try: Du Preez 8' m Petersen (2) 39' c, 42' c Venter 45' c Con: Brummer (2/3) 40', 46' Zas (1/1) 43'	Report^[5]	Try: Taylor (2) 35' m, 47' c Kvesic 55' c Wade 74' c Con: Cipriani (3/4) 49', 56', 75' Pen: Cipriani (1/1) 29'

Outeniqua Park, George^[6]
Referee: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa)

10 June 2016
19:10 SAST (UTC+02)

South Africa A	24–32	England A
Try: Brummer 49' c Van Zyl 63' c Notshe 70' c Con: Brummer (3/3) 47', 63', 71' Pen: April (1/1) 9'	Report^[7]	Try: Hepburn 15' c Rokoduguni 29' c Robson 32' m Devoto 77' c Con: Cipriani (3/4) 17', 30', 78' Pen: Cipriani (2/2) 24', 54'

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein^[6]
Attendance: 10,265
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)

2009

23 June 2009
19:10

South Africa A	13–13	British & Irish Lions
Try: Demas 80' c Con: De Waal (1/1) Pen: Rose (2/4) 37', 49'	Report^[8]	Try: Earls 15' c Con: O'Gara (1/1) Pen: O'Gara (1/2) 8' Hook (1/1) 77'

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Attendance: 39,418^[9]
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)^[10]

2008

20 June 2008
20:00 EET (UTC+02)

South Africa A	25–13	Romania
Try: Basson 27' c Noble 51' c Jenneker 77' m Con: Newman (2/3) Pen: Newman (2/2) 22', 38'	Report Stats	Try: Corodeanu 26' c Con: Dimofte (1/1) Pen: Dumbravă (1/1) 2' Dimofte (1/1) 33'

Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Referee: Alan Falzone (Italy)

15 June 2008
18:00 EET (UTC+02)

Italy A	19–20	South Africa A
Try: Sbaraglini 78' c Con: Duca (1/1) Pen: Buso (4/4) 42', 47', 54', 63'	Report Stats	Try: Waka 30' c Jansen 50' c Con: Dollie (2/2) Pen: Dollie (2/2) 2', 64'

Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Referee: Jérôme Garces (France)

11 June 2008
18:00 EET (UTC+02)

South Africa A	11–3	Georgia
Try: Noble 49' m Pen: Dollie (2/2) 27', 46'	Report Stats	Pen: Barkalaia (1/1) 37'

Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Referee: Alan Falzone (Italy)

2007

16 June 2007
19:00 EET (UTC+02)

South Africa A	24 – 10	Argentina XV
Try: Chavhanga (2) Con: Grant (1) Pen: Grant (3) Drop: Grant (1)	Report	Try: D Stuart Con: Fernández (1) Pen: Fernández (1)

Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest

10 June 2007
17:00 EET (UTC+02)

South Africa A	24 – 7	Georgia
Try: Delport (3) Con: Grant (3) Pen: Grant (1)	Stats	Try: Penalty Try Con: Kvirikashvili (1)

Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Referee: C Damasco (Italy)

5 June 2007
19:00 EET (UTC+02)

South Africa A	61 – 7	Romania
Try: Brits (2) Chavhanga Floors (2) Joubert Vermaak (2) Con: Grant (6) Pen: Grant (3)	Stats	Try: Petre Con: Vlaicu

Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Referee: M Fox (England)

Current squad

South Africa A squad to face Zimbabwe as part of the 2026 curtain-raiser for the Springboks vs. Barbarians match in Gqeberha.

2026 South Africa 'A' Lineup
Props Boan Venter Neethling Fouche Oliver Reid Hanro Jacobs Hookers Siphosethu Mnebelele Liam van Wyk Locks Vincent Tshituka (c) Ruben van Heerden Adré Smith	Loose forwards Emmanuel Tshituka Batho Hlekani Phepsi Buthelezi Siba Mahashe Scrum-halves Haashim Pead Imad Khan Fly-halves Yaqeen Ahmed Nico Steyn	Centres Lukhanyo Am Markus Muller Jurenzo Julius Wingers Zekhethelo Siyaya Jaco Williams Fullbacks Luan Giliomee

Previous squads

2021 South Africa 'A' squad
Props Thomas du Toit Lizo Gqoboka Steven Kitshoff Vincent Koch Wilco Louw Trevor Nyakane Coenie Oosthuizen Hookers Joseph Dweba Malcolm Marx Fez Mbatha Locks Jean-Luc du Preez Rynhardt Elstadt Eben Etzebeth Franco Mostert	Loose forwards Pieter-Steph du Toit Nico Janse van Rensburg Kwagga Smith Marco van Staden Jasper Wiese Scrum-halves Faf de Klerk Herschel Jantjies Sanele Nohamba Cobus Reinach Fly-halves Elton Jantjies Morné Steyn	Centres Lukhanyo Am Damian de Allende Jesse Kriel Wandisile Simelane Wingers Cheslin Kolbe Sbu Nkosi Yaw Penxe Rosko Specman Fullbacks Aphelele Fassi Willie le Roux Damian Willemse

References

↑ "Next Senior Representative Team". www.world.rugby. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018.
↑ "Rassie Erasmus' cunning plan to keep the next generation of Springboks in SA". www.sabcsport.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
↑ "South Africa A match to lock in top talent". www.sarugbymag.co.za. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
↑ "British & Irish Lions Tour 2021". www.ultimaterugby.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
↑ "England Saxons edge past South Africa 'A' - Planet Rugby". planetrugby.com. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
1 2 "England Saxons to tour South Africa in June". SA Rugby. 5 April 2016. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
↑ "England Saxons hold off South Africa 'A' - Planet Rugby". planetrugby.com. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
↑ "Emerging Springboks v Lions as it happened". BBC News. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
↑ Cite error: The named reference attendance was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
↑ Cite error: The named reference referees was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] "Next Senior Representative Team". www.world.rugby. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018.

[2] "Rassie Erasmus' cunning plan to keep the next generation of Springboks in SA". www.sabcsport.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.

[3] "South Africa A match to lock in top talent". www.sarugbymag.co.za. Retrieved 24 June 2026.

[4] "British & Irish Lions Tour 2021". www.ultimaterugby.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.

[5] "England Saxons edge past South Africa 'A' - Planet Rugby". planetrugby.com. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2017.

[England_Saxons-6] 1 2 "England Saxons to tour South Africa in June". SA Rugby. 5 April 2016. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.

[7] "England Saxons hold off South Africa 'A' - Planet Rugby". planetrugby.com. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2017.

[8] "Emerging Springboks v Lions as it happened". BBC News. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2017.

[attendance-9] Cite error: The named reference attendance was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[referees-10] Cite error: The named reference referees was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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