{"id":18976,"date":"2025-07-29T14:15:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T12:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=18976"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:09:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T08:09:31","slug":"rugby-championship-2025-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/rugby-championship-2025-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Rugby Championship 2025 Guide: Springbok Selections and Key Fixtures"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>With Australia wrapping up their British and Irish Lions tour this weekend, the rest of the southern hemisphere heavyweights\u2014South Africa, New Zealand, and Argentina\u2014have already locked in their preparations for the highly anticipated 2025 Rugby Championship. The competition officially gets under way on 16 August. The Springboks face Australia in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As defending champions, the Springboks aim to claim back-to-back titles for the first time in the competition\u2019s history. Head coach Rassie Erasmus has assembled a strong and familiar group, eager to keep the green and gold on top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-aiming-for-title-number-six\">Aiming for Title Number Six<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>South Africa has lifted the Rugby Championship (formerly known as the Tri-Nations) trophy just five times: in 1998, 2004, 2009, 2019, and most recently, 2024. In comparison, New Zealand has dominated with 20 titles. Australia sits on four. Argentina, meanwhile, are still chasing their maiden crown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Training is already under way in Johannesburg. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/springboks-set-to-end-all-blacks-dominance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Boks <\/a>are sharpening up for their opening clash against the Wallabies at Emirates Airline Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2886907154\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-rassie-s-squad-a-blend-of-experience-and-youth\">Rassie\u2019s Squad: A Blend of Experience and Youth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Springbok<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/springboks-vs-australia-37-man-squad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> squad <\/a>features 37 players, including 24 World Cup winners. This underlines the experience in the camp. However, there&#8217;s also a fresh edge to the group. Five new faces have stepped into the fold for the first time this year: utility back Ethan Hooker, props Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Boan Venter, hooker Marnus van der Merwe, and versatile forward Cobus Wiese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adding to the development angle, three Junior Springboks\u2014Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead\u2014have been invited to train with the senior squad over the next fortnight. This move is likely aimed at future-proofing the national team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-absentees-and-standby-options\">Key Absentees and Standby Options<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bath-based prop Thomas du Toit is currently observing a two-week rest period as agreed with his English club but remains available should the Boks need reinforcement. Meanwhile, Jasper Wiese is sidelined due to a four-week suspension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Several senior players are on standby as injury or form contingencies arise. Among them are Lukhanyo Am, who is recovering from a knee issue; scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, winger Makazole Mapimpi, and forwards Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos, Neethling Fouch\u00e9, and Vincent Tshituka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So far in 2025, the Springboks have recorded wins against the Barbarians, Italy (twice), and Georgia. These victories are building momentum ahead of the championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2225871617\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-full-springbok-squad-for-the-australia-clashes\">Full Springbok Squad for the Australia Clashes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Forwards<\/strong>: Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Backs<\/strong>: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Handr\u00e9 Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Edwill van der Merwe, Morn\u00e9 van den Berg, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-fixtures-to-watch\">Key Fixtures to Watch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Springboks play four of their six matches at home this year, starting and ending their campaign on familiar soil. Notably, they\u2019ll travel to New Zealand for back-to-back games in September. This period could prove decisive in their title defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fixtures:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>16 August<\/strong> \u2013 South Africa vs Australia (Johannesburg)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>23 August<\/strong> \u2013 South Africa vs Australia (Cape Town)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>6 September<\/strong> \u2013 New Zealand vs South Africa (Auckland)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>13 September<\/strong> \u2013 New Zealand vs South Africa (Wellington)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>27 September<\/strong> \u2013 South Africa vs Argentina (Durban)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>4 October<\/strong> \u2013 Argentina vs South Africa (London)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-4167042923\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-eyes-on-the-prize\">Eyes on the Prize<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.co.za\/sport\/rugby\/rugby-championship-2025-what-you-need-to-know-bok-squad-fixtures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stacked squad<\/a> and solid form leading into the tournament, the Springboks look well-positioned to challenge for their sixth Southern Hemisphere crown. However, with the All Blacks always dangerous and Australia eager to bounce back from Lions duty, the road ahead will demand sharp execution and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>South Africans will be watching closely as Erasmus and his charges seek to create history with back-to-back Rugby Championship triumphs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Related article: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/boks-ticket-sales-open-australia-argentina-matches\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bok Rugby Championship 2025: Ticket Sales Open for Australia and Argentina Matches<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With Australia wrapping up their British and Irish Lions tour this weekend, the rest of the southern hemisphere heavyweights\u2014South Africa, New Zealand, and Argentina\u2014have already locked in their preparations for the highly anticipated 2025 Rugby Championship. The competition officially gets under way on 16 August. The Springboks face Australia in Johannesburg. As defending champions, the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":18979,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"With Australia wrapping up their British and Irish Lions tour this weekend, the rest of the southern hemisphere heavyweights\u2014South Africa, New Zealand, and...","footnotes":""},"categories":[56,64],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-18976","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"category-sports-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18976","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18976"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18976\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18980,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18976\/revisions\/18980"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18976"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18976"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}