Jean Kleyn set to be part of South Africa's Rugby Championship training squad

South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has unveiled the training squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship tournament that will kick-off next month.

Skipper Siya Kolisi, lock Eben Etzebeth, prop Thomas du Toit and scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse are selected despite sidelined by injuries along with loose forward Jean-Luc du Preez, who was part of the Sale squad that lost the Premiership final against Saracens.

Despite the injury setback, Nienaber believes Kolisi will be fit for the Rugby World Cup later this year.

“Do we think he (Kolisi) will be ready for the World Cup? Yes, we do,” Nienaber told a recent press briefing in Cape Town.

Former Ireland and current Munster lock Jean Kleyn is also set to be part of the three-week training camp if an application for a change of national team status succeeds. He has already played the 2019 Rugby World Cup for Ireland under Joe Schmidt.

South Africa will kick-start their Rugby Championship campaign with a clash against Australia in Pretoria on 8th July.

Rugby Championship training squad of South Africa:

Thomas du Toit (Sharks), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers), Vincent Koch (Stade Francais), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Ox Nche (Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92), Joseph Dweba (Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Marvin Orie (Stormers), RG Snyman (Munster), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Evan Roos (Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Ulster), Jasper Wiese (Leicester), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Deon Fourie (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks), Herschel Jantjies (Stormers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Sharks), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester), Damian Willemse (Stormers), Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Canan Moodie (Bulls)