Bulls dominate Baby Bok squad

Former Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool No 8 Gerrit Jan van Velze has been selected alongside nine other Blue Bulls in the 26-man Baby Bok squad for the IRB Under-19 World Championship to be held in Belfast this year.

The group has been whittled down from an initial group of 90 players.

They will be coached by former SA Under-21 and IRB Under-21 World Cup-winning coach Eric Sauls, who is back in the country after a stint coaching in Ireland.

The Blue Bulls have the most players with 10 representatives in the 26-man squad, while KwaZulu-Natal and Western Province each have four players. SA Rugby included a note in their team announcement to highlight the inclusion of 12 players of colour in the squad.

The Under-19 World Championships is the top-age group of the IRB for 2007 and will take place from April 4 to 30 in Belfast.

SA Under-19 squad

Henri Batjies (Blue Bulls), Berend Botha (Leopards), Bernardo Botha (Golden Lions), Francois Brummer (Blue Bulls), Corné Fourie (Blue Bulls), Yassir Hartzenburg (WP), Wiehan Herbst (KwaZulu-Natal), Cornell Hess (Blue Bulls), Francois Hougaard (WP), Frederick Kirsten (Blue Bulls), Divan Kotze (Blue Bulls), Aubrey McDonald (Blue Bulls), Thiliphaut Marole (KwaZulu-Natal), Martin Muller (WP), Tshepo Masunga (Golden Lions), Sobelo Nhlapo (KwaZulu-Natal), Mlindazwe Nqoro (KwaZulu-Natal), Wilton Pieterse (Free State), Jean Jaques Rossouw (WP), Marlin Ruiters (Free State), Earl-Jivan Snyman (SWD), Johan van Deventer (Golden Lions), Gerrit Jan van Velze (Blue Bulls: captain), Pieter Janse van Vuuren (Free State), Stefan Watermeyer (Blue Bulls), Vainon Willis (Blue Bulls).