South Africa add 13 more players to preparation camp in Pretoria

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has added 13 players to their preparation camp in Pretoria ahead of the Rugby Championship tournament.

The players from Bulls and Sharks were recalled with their Super Rugby commitments coming to an end.

Thomas du Toit, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi and Sibusiso Nkosi are the new additions of Sharks while seven players from Bulls including the likes of Handre Pollard, Lizo Gqoboka, RG Snyman, Trevor Nyakane, Duane Vermeulen, Warrick Gellant and Jessie Kriel will be part of the camp along with Bath-bound Francois Louw.

“After our series of alignment camps, it was great to get the available group of players together and to get going with our field sessions,” said Erasmus.

“Kwagga Smith has recovered from his hamstring strain and was cleared to return to training, which meant that we were able to have 25 players available for our daily field training sessions.

"Our captain, Siya Kolisi, is continuing with his rehabilitation and the aim is to have him ready in time for the start of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.”

Meanwhile, Ruan Botha, Dan du Preez Sharks, Warren Whiteley, Damian Willemse and Jan Serfontein were not considered for the training camp due to injuries.

The Springboks will kick-start their Rugby Championship campaign with a clash against Australia in Johannesburg on 20th July.

South Africa squad (including recent additions):

Forwards:

Schalk Brits (Bulls), Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Ireland), Lood de Jager (Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), Rynardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), Lizo Gqoboka ( Bulls), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Francois Louw (Bath), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Emirates Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), Franco Mostert (Gloucester, England), Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), Marvin Orie (Emirates Lions), Kwagga Smith (Emirates Lions), RG Snyman (Vodacom Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls).

Backs:

Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers), Andre Esterhuizen (Cell C Sharks), Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England), Aphiwe Dyantyi (Emirates Lions), Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Bulls), Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, France), Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), Dillyn Lleyds (DHL Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), Sibusiso Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz, Japan), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, England), Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France).