Junior Boks Crowned U20 Champions 2025 & Future Stars Announce Themselves on The World Stage
- House Rugga
- Jul 20
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 23
By House Rugga – July 20, 2025
South Africa’s U20 side delivered a statement of intent with a composed and commanding 23 - 15 win over New Zealand in Rovigo to lift the World Rugby U20 Championship for the first time since 2012. This wasn’t just a win, it was a validation of South Africa’s next generation, led by intelligent coaching (Kevin Foote), a forward pack built on grit, and a handful of individuals whose performances demand serious attention from senior Springbok selectors.
In a tournament that often exposes rawness, the Junior Springboks showed maturity, tactical balance, and steel under pressure. Below, we break down the key players from this U20 group who not only starred in the campaign but have the pedigree, mentality, and rugby IQ to graduate into the senior Bok environment, perhaps some sooner than many might expect.
Standout Performers: Future Springboks in Waiting
Haashim Pead – The Complete No. 9 South Africa Needs
Pead was quite simply, electric. He finished the tournament as the top try-scorer (six tries), but the numbers only tell part of the story. His support lines were instinctive, his tempo control outstanding, and his box kicking precise and intelligent. In a system that relies on the halfback to manage momentum, Pead thrived, showing maturity beyond his years.
There’s a composure to his game that mirrors what Faf de Klerk brought in his early years, but with a cleaner base and slightly more attacking instinct. More importantly, he understands tempo, and that’s invaluable in Test rugby. If managed correctly, Pead is a future Springbok No. 9, and a genuine contender to succeed Jaden Hendrikse and Grant Williams in the next World Cup cycle.
Bathobele Hlekani – Enforcer in the Seven Jersey with Test-Ready Bite
Batho Hlekani didn’t just play a role, he set the tone. Operating in the No. 7 jersey, Hlekani was at the centre of everything abrasive and confrontational about this Junior Bok pack. He was relentless around the tackle area, accurate in his reads, and made a habit of stalling opposition momentum when it mattered most.
In a tournament filled with flashy backs and high tempo rugby, Hlekani stood out by doing the dirty work, over and over again, with almost mechanical intensity. Whether it was the dominant hit on England’s Sodeke that shifted the momentum in that clash, or his ability to force negative carries and slow opposition ball in the ruck zone, Hlekani’s physical presence was undeniable. Unlike some sevens who chase turnover stats, Hlekani’s game was about disrupting rhythm, quick off the line, square in the tackle, and decisive at contact.
But it wasn’t just defence. With ball in hand, he carried low and hard, chewing up metres in tight channels and regularly resetting the gainline. His efficiency in contact, rarely held up, rarely stopped dead, gave South Africa reliable front-foot possession to play from.
At 1.93m and 115kg, he has the frame of a traditional blindside, but he moves and thinks like a modern openside, aggressive off the line, high tackle output, breakdown pressure, and excellent spacing in phase defence.
The comparison to a young Duane Vermeulen remains relevant, but there are shades of Pieter Steph du Toit’s defensive smarts in the way he tracks the ball across the field. What’s most encouraging is his temperament. There’s no rush in his game. No recklessness. Hlekani understands pressure rugby and operates within it, not around it. Hlekani should find himself fast tracked into the senior Bok pathway. He’s not a ‘potential’ Springbok. He’s a probable one.
Riley Norton – A Captain’s Profile Fit for Bok Leadership
The towering second-rower is more than just a lineout option. Norton showed strong technical work at the set-piece, but what separated him in this tournament was his leadership and temperament. Whether under scoreboard pressure or pinned in their own 22, Norton’s composure spread through the squad. He speaks well, leads by example, and handles referees with clarity.
His physical output, second in dominant tackles for SA, and top five in ruck entries, shows his engine is real. More importantly, he understands pressure rugby, and that’s something the Boks will increasingly value at Test level. He’s not flashy, but neither was Etzebeth at 20. If groomed correctly, Norton could wear the captain’s armband at full international level. He’s got all the tools: presence, calmness, and performance.
Vusi Moyo – Ice in the Veins, Boot Like a Razor
Flyhalves at U20 level often struggle for control in tight games. Moyo was the outlier. He didn’t just manage games, he bossed them. He ended the tournament as top points-scorer (50 points), including a nerveless 5/6 in the final against New Zealand.
His tactical kicking was clinical, especially from hand, always turning defenders, creating chase lines, and forcing poor exits. On attack, he picks his moments. A beautifully weighted 40m chip-pass to set up Cheswill’s try showed next-level vision. Moyo may not have the physical presence of a Pollard, but he has a similar mental profile. Expect to see him in alignment with the Bok environment in the next 18 to 24 months.
Wandile Mlaba – The Engine That Never Stops
Mlaba was the unseen force in this Junior Bok engine room. His carries were low, direct, and always gave clean ball. At the defensive ruck, he was relentless, multiple back-to-back efforts per phase and vital cleanouts that allowed the halfbacks to play fast.
In many ways, Mlaba’s playstyle mirrors someone like Pieter-Steph du Toit: workmanlike, unselfish, brutally effective. He’s not going to steal headlines, but the coaching staff will know how critical he was. He’s a no-brainer for long-term Bok development.
Cheswill Jooste, Sheer X-Factor with Defensive Grit
Jooste is box office. His intercept try from his own half was one of the moments of the tournament, but there’s more to him than counter-attack flair. He reads space exceptionally well and has a natural feel for broken play. What’s impressive is how willing he is in contact, low body position, aggressive in cover tackles, and tidy under the high ball.
Still just 18, Jooste is a long-term project, but a very exciting one. He could evolve into a Kolbe-type hybrid who can cover wing, fullback, and even centre in a pinch. If SA Rugby keeps him close, he’ll be a breakout URC star within the next two years.
House Rugga U20 Rugby Rankings
South Africa: 65.15 pts (+4.88)
New Zealand: 63.03 pts (-2.04)
France: 61.72 pts (-2.72)
England: 59.41 pts (-4.98)
Australia: 58.00 pts (+1.20)
Conclusion: This Generation Has Grit, and Brains
It’s easy to get excited about young talent. But what this U20 group showed goes beyond raw skill. They’ve got the rugby intelligence, the professionalism, and the mental toughness that translates to senior Test rugby. Whether it’s Pead’s tempo, Norton’s leadership, or Moyo’s calmness, there’s a maturity running through this crop that feels familiar, like the 2012 generation that produced Handré Pollard, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Steven Kitshoff.
Mark these names down. South Africa didn’t just win a junior title, they announced a future Bok core.
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