Springbok Rugby World Cup Squad 2023
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is just around the corner, and everyone’s talking about the Springboks, South Africa’s star rugby team. Fresh from their last World Cup wins, the Boks are set to show the world what they’re made of. As they gear up for a friendly match against Argentina, fans can hardly wait for the action to start!
Springbok Rugby World Cup 2023 Squad
Here’s the list of 33 players for South Africa’s Springboks rugby team for the 2023 France World Cup.
The coach, Jacques Nienaber, picked the team, and there were some surprises because of players who couldn’t play.
Three key players, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am, and Lood de Jager, won’t be playing because they’re sick or hurt. So, the team chose four players who can play scrum-half and two who can play as tens, Manie Libbok and Damian Willemse. Jean Kleyn was also added to the team.
Some of the players can play in more than one position. Deon Fourie can play as a back-row player and a hooker, while Franco Mostert can switch between the second and back rows.
Player Position Age Caps
------------------- --------- ---- ----
Malcolm Marx Hooker 29 61
Bongi Mbonambi Hooker 32 58
Steven Kitshoff Prop 31 74
Vincent Koch Prop 33 44
Frans Malherbe Prop 32 61
Ox Nché Prop 28 19
Trevor Nyakane Prop 34 60
Eben Etzebeth Lock 31 112
Jean Kleyn Lock 30 1
Franco Mostert Lock 32 64
Marvin Orie Lock 30 13
RG Snyman Lock 28 26
Pieter-Steph du Toit Flanker 31 69
Deon Fourie Flanker 36 5
Siya Kolisi (c) Flanker 32 75
Kwagga Smith Flanker 30 33
Marco van Staden Flanker 28 12
Duane Vermeulen Number 8 37 66
Jasper Wiese Number 8 27 21
Faf de Klerk Scrum-half 31 48
Jaden Hendrikse Scrum-half 23 12
Cobus Reinach Scrum-half 33 25
Grant Williams Scrum-half 27 4
Manie Libbok Fly-half 26 6
Damian Willemse Fly-half 25 30
Damian de Allende Centre 31 71
André Esterhuizen Centre 29 12
Jesse Kriel Centre 29 60
Kurt-Lee Arendse Wing 27 10
Cheslin Kolbe Wing 29 25
Makazole Mapimpi Wing 33 37
Canan Moodie Wing 20 4
Willie le Roux Fullback 34 86
South Africa Rugby World Cup 2023 Schedule
The Springboks and Ireland, Scotland, Tonga, and Romania are in Group B for the World Cup.
Their first match will be against Scotland on September 10 at a stadium in Marseille, France. Once the group matches are over, the teams will go to the knockout stages.
| Date | OPPONENT | Time (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 | Scotland | 4:45 pm | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille |
| Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 | Romania | 2:00 pm | Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux |
| Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023 | Ireland | 8:00 pm | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |
| Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023 | Tonga | 8:00 pm | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille |
South Africa Rugby World Cup Pool Preview & Prediction
Predicting what will happen in Group B isn’t easy because anything can happen in rugby! But given how well the Springboks have played in the past and how strong their team is now, they have a good chance of doing really well, maybe even winning their group.
The toughest matches will probably be against Ireland and Scotland, but the Springboks are known for playing their best under pressure.
Also Check: How to Watch RWC 2023 in South Africa?
Springbok Rugby World Cup Past Performances & Records
The Springboks have a strong track record in the Rugby World Cup. Even though they couldn’t play in the first two tournaments because of a sports ban during apartheid, they’ve made a big impact since then. They won the Cup in 1995 when South Africa hosted the tournament, and again in France in 2007, and most recently in Japan in 2019.
The Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks hold the record for the most tournament wins – three times each. What’s even more impressive is that the Springboks have won every World Cup final they’ve played in.
South Africa RWC Performance by Position:
| Year | Round |
|---|---|
| 1987 | Did not participate |
| 1991 | Did not participate |
| 1995 | Winners |
| 1999 | 3rd Place |
| 2003 | Quarter-Finals |
| 2007 | Winners |
| 2011 | Quarter-Finals |
| 2015 | 3rd Place |
| 2019 | Winners |
The South African rugby team did not participate in the first two Rugby World Cup tournaments in 1987 and 1991 due to international sporting sanctions imposed against the apartheid regime.
Wrapping Up
As the 2023 Rugby World Cup approaches, excitement is building for the Springboks. They’re all set to make their mark on the tournament with a top-notch team, a solid training plan, and their never-give-up attitude. We can’t wait to see the Springboks in action as they go for another World Cup title!
Note: Stay tuned for updates on the final team selection and more as the tournament gets closer.
