SA Rugby announces 53-man u17 Elite Player Development Squad
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has announced a 53-man u17 Elite Player Development (EPD) Squad to attend a camp from 29 November to 6 December at Boland Landbou, in the Western Cape.
“As part of SA Rugby’s ongoing commitment to developing a truly nationwide rugby talent pipeline, we are continuing our comprehensive player identification programme in partnership with our Member Unions,” SARU said in a press statement.
“This crucial initiative is meticulously designed to expand the junior talent pool and strategically strengthen the player pathway for future national selections, directly aligning with our Strategic Transformation and Development Plan.
“The dedication shown by our unions has been instrumental in the success of our programmes over the years. Their commitment to nurturing and advancing rugby talent across South Africa is highly valued and supports our collective vision for sustainable excellence.”
Unsurprisingly, Western Province (WP), leads the way with the largest representation of 16 players. Paarl Gimnasium boasts the most individual selections, with six players, including Liam de Villiers and Mickyle Booise, who headline the union’s strong contingent.
Paul Roos Gimnasium follows with three representatives, including the exciting Tiaan Basson. Juvan Burden and Ethan van Biljon give Stellenberg‘s Jade Brigade two reps at the camp, while Rondebosch Boys’ High supplies Caleb Bell and Shellvon Mabooi.
Liam de Villiers of Paarl Boys’ High, Hoërskool Durbanville’s Zay-Winn Januarie, and Achmat Behardien, of Wynberg Boys’ High, complete the Western Cape contingent.
The Sharks, with 12, boast the second-highest number of players, led by three from Kearsney College: Clement Makelele, Nhlanhla Ndlovu, and Lwazi Mbebe. Earlier this year, Makalele was part of the SARU u16 EPD squad.
The northern powerhouse, the Blue Bulls, ranks third with nine players, including three from Affies: Charl Els, Hannes Nagel, and Martin van Niekerk.
The smallers unions also provide their fair share of players. The Limpopo Blue Bulls and Pumas had one player selected each, with Stephan Jansen van Rensburg, from Hoërskool Pietersburg, flying the flag for Limpopo, while Hoërskool Nelspruit‘s Rhandzu Mkhabela does the same for the Pumas.
Queen’s College provides Zeake Mata and Ncuthu Kepe, who are the only representatives from the Border region. Fleet-footed Lamla Mgedezi, one of the most exciting players in the country in 2025, is joined by his Grey College teammate, O’Ryan Kleyn in the squad. They’re the only Free State representatives.
The Lions had four players selected, including Jaydon Viljoen, the top points’ scorer at Academy Week, and the gifted Phano Letsie, who is joined in the squad by his Jeppe High School for Boys‘ teammate, Mihle Dyakala.
South Western Districts (SWD), who contested the Craven Week final at Hoërskool Middelburg in July, also had three players from Oakdale Landbou chosen for EPD camp, including Jacobus de Villiers, who earned SA Schools and SA u18 colours in 2025, and the massive lock, Diaan Augustyn, who was selected for the SA Schools A side and SA u18A teams. Prop, Matthew Prins will be Outeniqua‘s sole representative
Eastern Province provides three players – Luke Doyle, Erin Nelson, and Lucritia Magau – who are all from Graeme College.
U17 EPD SQUAD
Border (2)
Zeake Mata (Queen’s College)
Nchuthu Kepe (Queen’s College)
Blue Bulls (9)
Charl Els (Affies)
Hannes Nagel (Affies)
Martin van Niekerk (Affies)
Queenton Mcube (Pretoria Boys High)
Dylan Stumke (Menlopark)
Mendriano Abrahams (Menlopark)
Thabiso Simelane (St Alban’s College)
Drewyn Baron (Garsfontein)
Free State (2)
O’Ryan Kleyn (Grey College)
Lamla Mgedezi (Grey College)
Eastern Province (3)
Luke Doyle (Graeme College)
Erin Nelson (Graeme College)
Lucritia Magau (Graeme College)
Limpopo Blue Bulls (1)
Stephan Jansen van Rensburg (Hoërskool Pietersburg)
Lions (4)
Makomborero Mandihza (St John’s College)
Mihle Dyakala (Jeppe High School for Boys)
Jaydon Viljoen (Monument)
Phano Letsie (Jeppe High School for Boys)
Pumas (1)
Rhabdzu Mkhabela (Hoërskool Nelspruit)
Sharks (12)
Clement Makelele (Kearsney College)
Nicolas Salamousas (Michaelhouse)
Lwandile Mlaba (Westville Boys’ High)
Sambesiwe Ndamase (Glenwood)
Nhlanhla Ndlovu (Kearsney College)
Zander Muller (Hilton College)
Bulelani Cebani (Durban High School)
Jamie Wimble (Northwood)
Olwethu Kosani (Maritzburg College)
Nathan Aneke (Durban High School)
Lwazi Mbebe (Kearsney College)
Luxolo Sonkononkono (Westville Boys’ High)
South Western Districts (4)
Matthew Prins (Oakdale Landbou)
Adrian Smith (Okadale Landbou)
Diaan Augustyn (Oakdale Landbou)
Jacobus de Villiers (Oakdale Landbou)
Western Province (16)
Charles Whitehead (Paarl Gimnasium)
Lehan Barnard (Paul Roos)
Juvan Burden (Stellenberg)
Jean Dreyer (Paarl Gimnasium)
Zay-Winn Januarie (Hoërskool Durbanville)
Hendrik van Zyl (Paarl Gimnasium)
Liam de Villiers (Paarl Boys’ High)
Mickyle Booise (Paarl Gimnasium)
Caleb Bell (Rondebosch Boys’ High)
Ethan van Biljon (Stellenberg)
Travis Pheiffer (Paul Roos)
Achmat Behardien (Wynberg Boys’ High)
Louis Koen (Paarl Gimnasium)
Ethan Barker (Paarl Gimnasium)
Tiaan Basson (Paul Roos)
Shellvon Mabooi (Rondebosch Boys’ High)
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