Rassie reviews first Bok alignment camp of 2026, 11 uncapped invitees

Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has emerged from the Springboks’ first alignment camp of 2026 feeling “comfortable” with the amount of information the 49 players who attended digested over the three days.

The camp was designed to get the Springboks players, potential and established, up to speed on some of the plans the coaches have formulated over the southern hemisphere’s international off-season to date.

The coaches also had the chance to set out expectations and review the full season schedule before ending the camp with the SA Rugby Awards, where the team was well-rewarded for a dominant 2025.

“It’s the first time we’ve been in person together, and as coaches and management, we’ve been doing a lot of work behind the scenes, so it was nice to see everyone face-to-face and explain the operational aspects for the year, as well as the coaching areas, which is probably the most important,” Erasmus said, reviewing the camp.

“Most of the coaches and management are feeling comfortable that we got across what we think the players should know at this stage, and that means they can start working on some of the things that we’re expecting from them when they get to the next alignment camp.”

That next alignment camp will take place in May, with a virtual camp for 21 overseas-based players scheduled for before then.

Erasmus, who was crowned SA Rugby Coach of the Year at the awards night, invited 11 uncapped talents to the camp, including Junior Springboks Player of the Year Haashim Pead and 18-year-old sensation Markus Muller.

“There were eleven uncapped players, and although not all of them will get a chance to play this year, that’s beside the point,” Erasmus explained.

“The key was to get to know their personalities and for them to start feeling comfortable in the environment, and we are very excited about what they can deliver.

“We all think they have the potential to play for the Springboks one day, and this is only the first step for them to start understanding our systems, and obviously for the older players to see the young guys coming through to keep everybody at peak performance, so nothing can be taken for granted.”

The Springboks face a new-look 2026 season schedule, including the inaugural Nations Championship and the four-Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour against the All Blacks. Erasmus didn’t want the team looking too far ahead, but recognised the excitement felt across the three-day camp.

“There’s still a lot of important Vodacom United Rugby Championship games to play, but after sitting in the room together, we can’t wait for the season to start,” he said.

“It was fantastic to see the excitement in general, and players like Frans (Malherbe), who we spoke to for the first time in a while, and guys like Kai Pratt, Markus Muller, and the other young guys, and to witness their excitement levels first-hand. I think some of them are very nervous, but overall, the excitement is great, and we can’t wait for the season to start.”