SA Under-18s shine in International Series as Junior Bok pipeline grows stronger

Developing tomorrow’s Springboks starts with creating opportunities today, and the Under-18 International Series continues to deliver exactly that. Year after year, the tournament gives South Africa’s best young players exposure to international competition, helping to shape future professionals and strengthen the Junior Springbok pipeline.

This year, South Africa’s premier international age-group tournament once again proved to be an invaluable platform for the country's top young talent, with Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote saying it’s crucial in developing future stars and highlighting the importance of preparing the players for the rigours of professional rugby.

Featuring two national sides, the SA Under-18 and SA Under-18 ‘A’ teams, pitted against international opposition – this year France, England, Ireland and Georgia sent teams – the Series provides a unique opportunity for players to test their skills against players from abroad.

Foote said the series, staged annually in August, serves as a crucial link in SA Rugby’s Elite Player Development (EPD) programme, acting as a feeder system for the Junior Boks.

Like it did in previous seasons, this year’s series – which was hosted at the school grounds of Durbanville, Boland Landbou and Paarl Gimnasium – again underscored its value in exposing South Africa’s most promising players to a higher level of competition and forging the next generation of Junior Bok stalwarts.

The 2025 edition was especially successful for the SA Under-18s, who won all three of their matches, against France 43-21, Ireland 45-5, and England 69-24, by comfortable margins. 

They scored a combined total of 157 points in their three outings for an average of 52.3 points per match, managing a series-high total of 23 tries in the process.

Meanwhile, the SA Under-18 ‘A’ side lost a cliffhanger opening game by three points, 39-36, to Ireland. They bounced back to comprehensively outplay Georgia 57-19, but went down 40-14 to France in their final encounter.

Foote and members of his SA Under-20 coaching staff played an active role, mentoring the SA Under-18 coaches during the preparation of their two teams. The Junior Bok coach was, therefore, understandably pleased with the efforts of the local teams, praising the contribution of the coaches and speaking with admiration for the well-established SA schoolboy rugby system.

“The schoolboy rugby system in South Africa is amazing. Every school's coach and headmaster, everyone involved in the development of those players, deserves a huge amount of credit. Well done to our coaches, Lwazi Zangqa, Flash Malinga, Clinton van Rensburg and Cobus van Dyk, on doing a great coaching job. And also Louis Koen, who did so well in putting this programme together.”

Foote reckons the prestigious Under-18 International Series – now in its 14th year since the inaugural event in George – plays a vital role in the preparation of these two groups of players as future Junior Springboks.

He also expressed gratitude to the international teams that travel to South Africa regularly to compete against the best local schoolboy talent.

Under-18 International Series results:

Round One:

SA Under-18 ‘A’ 36-39 Ireland

Georgia 35-31 England

SA Under-18 43-21 France

Round Two:

SA Under-18 ‘A’ 57-19 Georgia 

SA Under-18 45-5 Ireland 

France 53-20 England 

Round Three:

SA Under-18 ‘A’ 14-40 France 

Georgia 13-13 Ireland 

SA Under-18 69-24 England