The young Toyota Cheetahs flyhalf, Tylor Sefoor, has been included in the Junior Springbok squad for their upcoming U20 Rugby Championship campaign in Australia.

Sefoor is one of just two Free State players named in the squad for the trip down-under where they will face the junior teams of Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.

The other Free State player is the prop Liyema Ntshanga.

Sefoor is the first Free State flyhalf to make a BabyBoks squad since Lubabalo Dobela back in 2018.

The former Hoërskool Monument and Central University of Technology Ixias pivot told OFM Sport that hard work pays off, and it's a big relief after last year’s disappointment.

“For me it's a big relief because last year I made the Academy squad, and then missed out on team selection because of illness.

“It's a big relief. It's been a good six month of preparation with early mornings and tough days on and off the field and staying in the game mentally.

“It's good that it's all coming together and I'm really thankful to everyone that gave me the opportunity to be in this position.”

Sefoor added that being able to test themselves against the other big teams from the Southern Hemisphere will allow them to build towards the World Rugby U20 Championship that will be played in Cape Town and Stellenbosch again later in the year.

“We started in November already and it's been six months of preparation for this. We're very excited and looking forward to the upcoming U20 Rugby Championship, our main focus is on 19 July which is the finals day of the U20 World Championship in Cape Town.

“For now, we're just going to focus on the Junior Rugby Championship and just perform to set a good foundation for the Junior World Championship.”

The Junior Boks will kick-off their tournament on 2 May against New Zealand in Queensland.

Junior Springbok squad for the U20 Rugby Championship:

Forwards:

Props - Casper Badenhorst (Bulls), Liyema Ntshanga (Toyota Cheetahs), Mbasa Maqubela (Bulls), Reno Hirst (Lions), Ruan Swart (Bulls), Zachary Porthen (Western Province).

Hookers - CJ Erasmus (Western Province), Ethan Bester (Sharks), Juan Smal (Bulls).

Locks - Adam de Waal (Western Province), JF van Heerden (Bulls), Thomas Dyer (Sharks).

Loose forwards - Bathobele Hlekani (Sharks), Divan Fuller (Western Province), Keanu Coetsee (Bulls), Sibabalwe Mahashe (Lions), Thabang Mphafi (Lions), Tiaan Jacobs (Biarritz, France).

Backs:

Scrumhalves - Asad Moos (Western Province), Ezekiel Ngubane (Western Province), Hassiem Pead (Lions).

Flyhalves - Thurlon Williams (Lions), Tylor Sefoor (Toyota Cheetahs).

Centres - Bruce Sherwood (Western Province), Joshua Boulle (Western Province), Jurenzo Julius (Sharks), Litelihle Bester (Sharks), Philip-Albert van Niekerk (Bulls).

Outside backs - JC Mars (Western Province), Joel Leotlela (Western Province / SA Sevens), Michail Damon (Bulls).

Morgan Piek OFM Sport