Springboks: Five players who could make their Test debuts in 2026 including ‘explosive’ Ulster star and World Cup winner’s replacement
Ulster number eight Juarno Augustus, Stormers flanker Paul de Villiers and Bulls flyer Sebastian de Klerk.
With 2026 around the corner, Planet Rugby has selected five players who could make their international debuts for the world champions, South Africa, during the year.
After a successful Autumn Nations Series campaign, in which they won all five of their Tests, the Springboks are now firmly entrenched as the leading side in the international arena.
Their outstanding and trendsetting head coach, Rassie Erasmus, has once again added to his team’s depth by selecting eight Test newbies in 2025 as he builds towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
We expect Erasmus to increase the number of Springboks debutants next year, and here is a selection of players who we feel have a good chance of making the step up to international level.
Juarno Augustus (Ulster)
After a successful four-year stint with Premiership heavyweights Northampton Saints, the highly rated number eight has made the move to United Rugby Championship (URC) outfit Ulster, where he has hit the ground running with some excellent performances.
The 28-year-old is an explosive ball carrier who usually puts his team on the front foot with his barnstorming runs and also brings plenty of physicality to the cause, whether he’s attacking or defending.
A former World Rugby Junior Player of the Year, Augustus was also featured on our list of players who could make their Springboks debut ahead of the 2025 international season, but his dream of representing his country at the senior level has not been realised yet.
However, the Ulster star is definitely on the Boks’ radar as Erasmus has already invited him to training camps, and he was on the standby list for the world champions’ recent end-of-year tour to Europe. We reckon he will finally achieve that goal in 2026.
Paul de Villiers (Stormers)
The Stormers were dealt a massive setback a couple of months ago when veteran Springboks back-row Deon Fourie was ruled out due to a torn bicep, which meant De Villiers was promoted to the Cape Town-based franchise’s starting line-up.
The rookie tearaway was no stranger to the role, as he had previously also filled in for Fourie after the 39-year-old suffered a broken tibia in April.
De Villiers showed that he is a more than a capable replacement for the 2023 Rugby World Cup winner when he sustained his initial injury as he gave a good account of himself on the openside flank for the Stormers.
However, the 22-year-old has hit the ground running after replacing Fourie for the second time in October and he has proven to be arguably the best player in the Stormers’ ranks this season.
A former SA U20 captain, De Villiers has impressed with several outstanding performances for the men from the Cape, who have won all their matches in the URC and Investec Champions Cup this season.
Blessed with a high work-rate on defence, De Villiers has also been prolific as a ball carrier but made his biggest impact as a brilliant breakdown specialist, where he usually wins his fair share of turnovers.
A short, stocky flanker blessed with tremendous upper body strength, he has earned comparisons with ex-Springboks and Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brussow, and if he continues with his current superb form, it will be hard for Erasmus to ignore him when he selects his Springboks squad in 2026.
Sebastian de Klerk (Bulls)
The 25-year-old speedster has shone on the wing for the Bulls in recent months as he has proven to be a genuine attacking threat out on the wing and was one of the Pretoria-based outfit’s stars during their run to the 2025 URC final, which they lost to Leinster.
Blessed with plenty of speed and sheer power, De Klerk caught the eye with several outstanding attacking performances for the Bulls during the 2024/25 season, and he has continued in that vein during the current campaign.
Equally at home at outside centre, he burst onto the scene in 2022 when he played a leading role for the Pumas during their victorious Currie Cup Premier Division campaign and his efforts were rewarded when he was named as the famous tournament’s player of the year.
De Klerk’s outstanding form for the Bulls over the past two seasons was recognised when he was amongst a group of 10 players who were placed on a standby list for the Springboks’ recent end-of-year tour of Europe, and although his services were not required, it should only be a matter of time before he earns a call-up to the world champions’ squad.
Suleiman Hartzenberg (Stormers)
The talented outside back has been a key part of the Stormers set-up since making his (URC) debut against Connacht in 2022.
After catching the eye with several excellent displays for the men from the Cape and the Junior Springboks at under 20 level, Hartzenberg was named in the South Africa A squad for their two-match tour to Europe at the end of 2022.
A brilliant attacker, the 22-year-old’s searing pace and ability to step off both feet make him a nightmare for defenders, and when he is fully fit, he is a regular on the wing for the Stormers, although he is also comfortable at outside centre.
He is currently working his way back from injury, but his talents have been recognised by Erasmus, who has already invited him to some of the Springboks’ alignment camps, and if he manages to continue delivering excellent performances for the Stormers, it will not be long before he makes his bow for the Boks.
Bathobele Hlekani (Sharks)
One of the Junior Springboks stars who made a huge impression during South Africa’s triumphant World Rugby U20 Championship campaign in Italy earlier this year, and he has already made several appearances at senior level for the Sharks, who he will leave to join the Lions at the end of this year.
Hlekani is capable of packing down on the blindside flank and in the second row, and is a destructive ball carrier and solid in the execution of his defensive duties.
The 20-year-old has a similar background to Siya Kolisi and hails from Zwide in the Eastern Cape – the same township from which the Springboks skipper is from – and after lifting the World Rugby U20 Championship title, he was invited to train with the world champions – along with fellow Junior Boks Cheswill Jooste and Haashim Pead – ahead of this year’s Rugby Championship.
With his move to the Lions imminent, Hlekani could be back in the senior Boks squad if he produces some outstanding performances for the Johannesburg-based outfit on a consistent basis.