Former Junior Springbok captain, Porthen, earns first Springbok call-up for outgoing tour

Former Junior Springbok captain Zachary Porthen has earned his first call-up to the Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour in November. Head coach Rassie Erasmus announced a 36-man squad on Monday, featuring a blend of experience, youth, and returning players.

The Boks will face five international sides on consecutive Saturdays, starting with Japan at Wembley Stadium in London on 1 November. They will then take on France in Paris, Italy in Turin, Ireland in Dublin, and Wales in Cardiff to close out the tour.

Porthen, who made his Vodacom United Rugby Championship debut for the DHL Stormers earlier this year, is the only uncapped player in the squad. The 22-year-old prop’s inclusion marks a major step in his rapid rise through the national rugby ranks.

Joining him are Ben-Jason Dixon, Johan Grobbelaar, and Gerhard Steenekamp, who will all make their first appearances for the Springboks this season. Jean Kleyn, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Edwill van der Merwe return from injury to strengthen the squad.

Erasmus also named 10 players on standby, including uncapped Ulster loose forward Juarno Augustus and Vodacom Bulls back Sebastian de Klerk. The standby list features notable names such as Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, and Bongi Mbonambi, providing solid backup should injuries arise.

Captain Siya Kolisi is in line to reach a special milestone, with the possibility of earning his 100th Test cap during the tour. Kolisi currently sits on 98 caps following South Africa’s narrow win over Argentina earlier this month, which secured the Rugby Championship title for a second consecutive year.

Among those unavailable for selection due to injury are Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Frans Malherbe, Trevor Nyakane, Jean-Luc du Preez, and Aphelele Fassi.

Erasmus expressed his satisfaction with the squad’s balance and depth.

“Most of these players have been part of our system this season, while others are back from injury or have proven their value in previous years. It’s also great to see a young player like Zachary come through our junior structures and earn his place,” he said.

The coach emphasised that the tour will be demanding but provides an excellent opportunity for the team to build consistency.

“We have five tough matches lined up against quality opposition. Ireland and France are both top-ranked sides, and teams like Italy, Wales, and Japan have shown great improvement. It’s going to be a challenging tour, but we are excited and ready to test ourselves.”

The squad will assemble this weekend, travelling from their respective clubs and franchises to London for the first match of the tour.