The SA 'A' side will return to international action for the first time since the 2022 Outgoing Tour when they face Zimbabwe's Sables on June 20 in Gqeberha, in a curtain raiser to the Springboks versus Barbarians double-header at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Rassi Erasmus has framed the match as a deliberate exercise in expanding his talent pool beyond the players who have featured in the Bok rotation over the past two seasons. "There are others who have performed really well outside of that group, who we would like to see in action, so we'll be able to cast our net wider as we prepare for that encounter," he said.
Erasmus pointed to the SA 'A' programme's track record in fast-tracking players into the senior squad, citing Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ruan Nortje, Grant Williams, Aphelele Fassi and Elrigh Louw as players who used the platform to establish themselves before becoming regular squad members.
For Zimbabwe, the fixture carries its own weight. The Sables qualified for the 2027 World Cup in Australia, and head coach Pieter Benadie views the match as a critical developmental benchmark. "Experiences like this are invaluable, as they expose our players to the highest level of competition, accelerate their growth, and play a key role in the continued development of our squad," Benadie said.
The Springboks' second alignment camp is scheduled for May, with Erasmus set to name his squad for the official training camp in June. The coach for the SA 'A' side will be confirmed in due course.