Foote focused on new journey as Junior Boks build momentum in Stellenbosch

The Junior Springboks continued their preparations for the forthcoming tour of Georgia with another rigorous training match on Thursday afternoon.

Facing Maties at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch, the squad utilised their full roster to clock essential game time against the experienced Varsity Cup campaigners.

With the mid-February tour to Georgia looming, this marked the team's second hit-out of the week, following Monday’s session at the home of current Varsity Cup holders, UCT.

The SA U20s managed to outscore Maties seven tries to four. The Stellenbosch side also used the occasion to make a raft of rotational changes, seeking to provide game time to their wider squad ahead of their season opener in two weeks’ time.

Under the guidance of Kevin Foote, the Junior Boks are looking to build on the momentum of last year’s Junior World Championship title—their first since 2012. While the head coach expressed a strong desire for repeat success, he emphasised that the "Class of 2026" is a distinct entity.

“Look, the hunger to repeat that success is definitely there—that’s the number one thing for all of us—but we see this as a whole new journey,” Foote explained on the sideline at the Danie Craven Stadium.

While continuity is a factor, the squad features a significant influx of fresh talent.

“We have six guys back [from the 2025 world champion team], which is fantastic for continuity, but we also have 18 new players," said Foote. "There is a great synergy regarding how we want to play, but we aren't getting ahead of ourselves. We have an experienced coaching staff now and a clear understanding of the environment we want to create for 2026.”

A third training match against UCT is scheduled for next Tuesday in Stellenbosch. Foote highlighted that these domestic fixtures are crucial for cohesion before the international season kicks off. The Junior Boks will compete in the U20 Rugby Championship in late April, followed by their world title defence in Georgia during June and July.

“One of the things we need to get right to be successful is to play a lot of rugby together,” Foote noted. “The Six Nations teams play regularly in a tough, competitive environment. For us, these training games against the likes of UCT and Maties are vital because they allow us to start building combinations and test our game model before we hit the international stage.”