Three young stars who can make a play for Bok selection in URC

It’s fair to say that the dust has settled on South Africa’s Rugby World Cup success in 2023, and attention will soon turn to what the Bok team might look like when the 2024 Test season rolls around in July.

There aren’t likely to be many unexpected selections, but some new faces can be expected to be named in the wider group as the Bok coaches begin to assess their options beyond the World Cup group.

Below, we take a look at just three young players who could begin to work their way onto the Bok radar.

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URC talents that could become Bok contenders

Cameron Hanekom

Bulls forward Cameron Hanekom really caught the eye in the URC towards the end of October when he scored two tries in the Bulls’ demolition of Scarlets. “I rate him very highly,” Bulls coach Jake White said at the time. “He has a great feel for the game, he has speed, and he put on some size during the off-season.” The 21 year old has continued to show glimpses of his potential during the first half of the season, and considering that Duane Vermeulen has now retired, there is good reason to believe that the youngster has already caught the eye of the Bok coaches. Of course, his challenge will now be to maintain form, fitness and consistency, but he is certainly one rising star to watch.

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Sanele Nohamba

It’s been a pretty special season to date for the 24-year-old, who has suddenly come of age after making the shift to flyhalf. He’s risen to the challenge impressively, while his accurate goal-kicking an added bonus to go with his versatility as a player who first burst onto the scene as a nippy scrumhalf. He probably doesn’t have the size to be considered as a true Test option at flyhalf, but the Bok coaches may view his X factor and ability to cover more than one position as a notable drawcard.

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Hacjivah Dayimani

The Stormers loose forward is blessed with an abundance of talent, and there is a sense that this is really the season when the 26-year-old could throw his name into the Bok ring. With immense mobility and plenty of soft skills, Dayimani could really come into the national reckoning if he brings sturdy defence and high work rate to the mix. He has the ability to play across the back row, and the Bok coaches may soon want to see first-hand what he can offer.

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