South Africa's fullback Aphelele Fassi (C) jumps as he takes to the pitch alongside South Africa's hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels (L) and hooker Andre-Hugo Venter (R) during the rugby Nations Championship match between South Africa and Wales at Kings Park Stadium in Durban on July 18, 2026. Phill Magakoe / AFP
JOHANNESBURG - The Nations Championship is on a break.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named his squad for the upcoming Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires and the Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks.
Erasmus named 43 players while releasing five others to play for their franchises against New Zealand.
The squad will gather in Johannesburg on Sunday to start preparations.
A total of 10 seasoned Springboks, including locks Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager, return from injury.
Ruben van Heerden is the only player in the squad from the opening leg of the Nations Championship who was omitted from the two groups.
This is after making a move from the Stormers to Montpellier.
He remains on standby.
The Springboks will face the All Blacks in four RGR Tests – at Ellis Park in Johannesburg (22 August), the DHL Stadium in Cape Town (29 August), FNB Stadium in Johannesburg (5 September), and the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, USA (12 September).
Springbok squad to gather in Johannesburg on Sunday:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Carlu Sadie (Bordeaux Begles), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).
Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears).
Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears).
Loose forwards: Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon (both DHL Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Utility forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Vodacom Bulls).
Scrumhalves: Herschel Jantjies (Bayonne), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Grant Williams (Kobe Steelers).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls).
Centres: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside and utility backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars), Aphelele Fassi (Toshiba), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Stormers), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
Players released to play for their franchises in RGR:
Forwards: Ntuthuko Mchunu, Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter (all DHL Stormers).
Backs: Jaco Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Embrose Papier (Vodacom Bulls).
Standby: Ruben van Heerden (Montpellier).