Zachary Porthen earns Springboks call-up for Castle Lager Outgoing Tour

On Monday, South African under-20 captain Zachary Porthen received a surprise call-up to the Springbok squad for the upcoming Castle Lager Outgoing Tour — a clear indication that head coach Rassie Erasmus views him as a rising star in the national setup.

Porthen, who captained the Junior Boks last season and currently represents the DHL Stormers, is the only uncapped player named in Erasmus’s 36-man squad for the five-match tour in November. He made his Vodacom United Rugby Championship debut for the Stormers in May.

The squad includes four players returning to the Springbok fold for the first time this season, highlighting a blend of experience and emerging talent.

South Africa will kick off the tour with a Test against Japan at Wembley Stadium in London on 1 November. They will then face France at Stade de France in Paris (8 November), Italy at the Allianz Stadium in Turin (15 November), Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (22 November), and wrap up against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 29 November.