Wholesale rotational changes for SA U18 teams

Issued by SA Rugby Communications
August 10, 2026
The SA Under-U18 and SA U18 ‘A’ teams both show wholesale rotational changes for their second-round matches of the U18 International Series against Ireland and Georgia at Boland Landbou on Tuesday.
The SA U18 ‘A’ side will again open the day’s schedule against Georgia at 11h30. That match will be followed by the England vs France clash from 13h30. The final clash on the day is between the SA U18’s and Ireland, from 15h30. The games will be broadcast live on YouTube, by SuperSport and SuperSport Schools.

Both South African sides got off to a winning start last Friday in the opening round of the U18 Series in Durbanville, with the ‘A’-side clinching a thrilling 32-31 win over Ireland, while the SA U18s were far too strong for France and won 59-7.

For their second match of the popular series, SA U18 coach Lwazi Zangqa has retained only five players from the starting line-up that beat the French. They are captain and No 8 Jacobus de Villiers, flanker Jamie Wimble, lock Juvan Burden, right wing Anesu Kuzonyei and Lamla Mgedezi, who moves from fullback to left wing.

Flash Malinga, the SA U18 A coach, has retained only four players from the starting fifteen who managed to edge Ireland in their opening-round clash.

Martin van Niekerk (lock) retains the captaincy and is the only forward to start a second match in a row. Amongst the backs, fullback Rhandzu Mkhabela, and midfielders Nathan Aneke and Amogelang Mataboge will start again.

The teams:

SA U18 team vs Ireland:

15 Luxolo Sonkononkono (Sharks, Westville)
14 Anesu Kuzonyei (Sharks, Northwood)
13 Thabiso Simelane (Blue Bulls, St Alban’s)
12 Ethan Barker (vice-captain, Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium)
11 Lamla Mgedezi (Free State, Grey College)
10 Achmat Behardien (Western Province, Wynberg)
9 Luke Doyle (Eastern Province, Graeme College)
8 Jacobus de Villiers (captain, SWD, Oakdale)
7 Jamie Wimble (Sharks, Northwood)
6 Siphesihle Marule (Pumas, Uplands White River)
5 Glodi Tshipamba (Golden Lions, Jeppe)
4 Juvan Burden (Western Province, Stellenberg)
3 Ruben Lombard (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein)
2 Theo Boshoff (Sharks, Maritzburg College)
1 Aphelele Chamane (Sharks, Michaelhouse)
Replacements:
16 Charles Whitehead (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium)
17 Clement Makelele (Sharks, Kearsney College)
18 Nicolas Salamousas (Sharks, Michaelhouse)
19 Jean Dreyer (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium)
20 Stefan van der Vyver (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein)
21 Werner de Bruin (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium)
22 Mickyle Booise (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium)
23 Ethan van Biljon (Western Province, Stellenberg)
24 Alex Jankowitz (Sharks, Michaelhouse)
25 Erin Nelson (Eastern Province, Graeme College)
26 Ncutu Kepe (Border, Queen's College

SA U18 'A' team vs Georgia:
15 Rhandzu Mkhabela (Pumas, Nelspruit)
14 Drewyn Baron (Blue Bulls, Garsfontein)
13 Nathan Aneke (Sharks, DHS)
12 Amogelang Mataboge (Sharks, DHS)
11 Thomas Saunders (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium)
10 Travis Pheiffer (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium)
9 Liam de Villiers (Western Province, Paarl Boys' High)
8 Zander Muller (Sharks, Hilton College)
7 AD Faul (Western Province, Paarl Boys' High)
6 Nala Shabangu (Sharks, Northwood)
5 Martin van Niekerk (captain, Blue Bulls, Affies)
4 Bulelani Cebani (Sharks, DHS)
3 Sebastiaan Bekker (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium)
2 Kwaza Gobingca (Western Province, Rondebosch)
1 Matthew Prins (SWD, Outeniqua)
Replacements:
16 Charl Els (Blue Bulls, Affies)
17 Max Malan (Western Province, Paarl Boys' High)
18 Priden Sibiya (Sharks, DHS)
19 Bernard Schulze (Western Province, Paarl Gimnasium)
20 Linakho Mehlomakulu (Western Province, Rondebosch)
21 Rufagon Hendricks (SWD, Outeniqua)
22 Jaydon Viljoen (Golden Lions, Monument)
23 Ruan Genis (Golden Lions, Monument)
24 Lucritia Magau (Eastern Province, Graeme College)
25 Niel du Randt (Free State, Grey College)
26 Albert Nel (Western Province, Paul Roos Gymnasium)

SA U18 International Series results and fixtures:

Friday, 7 August – Hoërskool Durbanville

SA U18 'A' 32, Ireland 31
England 66, Georgia 33
SA U18 59, France 7

Tuesday, 11 August - Boland Landbou
11h30: SA U18 'A' vs Georgia
13h30: England vs France
15h30: SA U18 vs Ireland

Saturday, 15 August – Stellenberg High School
11h30: SA U18 'A' vs France
13h30: Ireland vs Georgia
15h30: SA U18 vs England
Photographer: Charmaine Sander Photography
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