Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has included a Stormers rookie in a group of 26 players invited to attend virtual alignment camps in March.
Jonathan Roche was on the list of players, primarily based abroad, named to attend the online alignment camps on 27 March, following the first in-person camp in Cape Town from 10-12 March. Roche, the Bishops and UCT centre, has made three starts in six appearances for the Stormers this season.
Erasmus along with his assistant coaches and management team will host two virtual sessions on the day – one with the Japanese-based players and the other with the players playing in the northern hemisphere and domestically – to accommodate their respective time zones.
In addition to this group, 56 players have been invited to the Cape Town camp.
READ: Rassie casts the net wide for first Bok camp
A total of 18 Rugby World Cup winners have been included in the virtual alignment camp group, with another four capped Boks also in the group.
“It is vital for us that all the players on our radar are exposed to our plans and goals for the season, so we intend to replicate our presentations to the group in Cape Town with these players, so everyone is on the same page as we embark on this challenging season,” said Erasmus.
“With a wide group of players invited to the respective alignment camps, we are excited to grow our player base and expose all these individuals to the national structures, as well as to explain what our expectations are of them for the forthcoming season.
“Many of these players have won a World Cup before, but we made it clear before the 2023 showpiece in France that we have to continue adapting and improving to remain at the top of our game – not only this season but also as we build toward the 2027 World Cup in Australia.”
Erasmus said options are being investigated for a match prior to the July lineup of Tests against Italy (on 5 and 12 July) and Georgia on (19 July).
The Boks will then undertake the defence of their Rugby Championship title against Australia, New Zealand and Argentina between August and October, before the traditional November tour to Europe.
Players invited to the virtual Springbok alignment camps (by league):Japan League OneKurt-Lee Arendse (Dynaboars)Damian de Allende (Wild Knights)Lood de Jager (Wild Knights)Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles)Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz)Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath)Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles)Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears)Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)Kwagga Smith (Blue Revs)Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)
English PremiershipThomas du Toit (Bath)Dan du Preez (Sale Sharks)Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks)Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers)
Top 14Cobus Reinach (Montpellier)Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier)
URCHerschel Jantjies (Stormers)Jean Kleyn (Munster)Elrigh Louw (Bulls)Trevor Nyakane (Sharks)Siya Masuku (Sharks)Jonathan Roche (Stormers)RG Snyman (Leinster)Nico Steyn (Lions)Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets)
