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Cape Town – World champion Springboks Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger as well as two former Blitzbokke stars, Cornal Hendricks and S’bura Sithole, are included in a 36-man squad to attend a national training camp in Durban from May 25 to 28, the South African Rugby Union (Saru) announced yesterday.

Cell C Sharks back Sithole and the Cheetahs’ Hendricks are two of eight uncapped players in the squad. The others are the Cheetahs duo of Lood de Jager (lock) and Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje (loose forward); Marcel van der Merwe (prop) and Jacques du Plessis (flank/lock) of the Bulls; Marnitz Boshoff (flyhalf) of the Lions and the Stormers’ Damian de Allende (centre/wing).

They will join Matfield, Burger and Cheetahs flank Heinrich Brüssow – who are back in the national set-up for the first time since the last Rugby World Cup in 2011 – in a training squad that is missing a number of players due to injury.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said he was happy with the form of a number of the country’s top players and the uncapped players who have grabbed their chance this season, as well as the re-appearance from retirement and long-term injury of Matfield and Burger.

Players who were involved with the Springboks last year, but were not considered for selection because of medium to long-term injuries, are Scarra Ntubeni (foot), Chiliboy Ralepelle (knee), Frik Kirsten (neck), Pieter-Steph du Toit (knee), Franco van der Merwe (ankle), Arno Botha (knee), Pierre Spies (bicep), Louis Schreuder (hand), Pat Lambie (bicep), Gio Aplon (elbow) and Jaque Fourie, who could potentially miss the entire Test season because of an ankle injury.— Sport 24