Bosch and Davids are among nine players who participated in the tournament in Manchester last year, where the Junior Springboks finished in fourth place, while Moerat is one of six SA Schools team players from 2016 in the training squad.

Stedman Gans, Manie Libbok, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Embrose Papier, Cobus Wiese, Ruben de Villiers, Ernst van Rhyn and Carlu Sadie played for the Junior Boks with Bosch and Davids in 2016.

Moerat, who captained the SA Schools side last year, will be joined by his 2016 teammates Gianni Lombard, Manuel Rass, Wandisile Simelane, Damian Willemse and Muller Uys.

A total of 86 players were invited to two assessment camps last month in Pretoria and Stellenbosch, where the players participated in a series of speed and strength tests and underwent medical screening. The first training camp will be in Stellenbosch from 5 to 17 March, whereafter the squad will be trimmed down to 28 players in April for the international showpiece, which kicks off in May.

“This is a talented group of players, and we can’t wait to start the real hard work in the lead-up to the World Rugby U20 Championship,” said Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux.

“The players who were selected really worked hard, which is very pleasing. They were aware of the fitness and strength standards required at this level of the game at the conclusion of the assessment camps, and we are proud of the work they put in to achieve that.

“But that was only the first step in what will be a mentally and physically challenging journey to possibly secure a place in the final 28-man squad.

“Over the next two months we will be working hard to put our structures and systems in place and to reach the desired fitness and strength requirements we would like to achieve as a team.

“We have exactly three months to get the team ready before their opening match, which is not much time, especially if one considers that the U20 Six Nations teams are at an advanced stage of their season. But that said, we are excited about the challenge ahead and we believe the players will be up for it.”

This camp will be followed by a tour to the central unions from 26 March to 9 April, which will feature warm-up matches against the Down Touch Griffons in Welkom on Friday 31 March, Griquas in Kimberley on Wednesday 5 April, and Toyota Free State Cheetahs on Saturday 8 April.

The Junior Springboks will play another two further warm-up matches against the Varsity Cup Dream Team on Tuesday 25 April, and DHL Western Province on Tuesday 9 May, in Stellenbosch, during their third training camp, which runs from 18 April to 12 May. They will conclude their preparations for the tournament with a holding camp in Stellenbosch from 21 to 25 May.  

Junior Springbok training squad:

Props - Kwenzo Blose (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), Wikus Groenewald, Leo Kruger, Andrew Kuhn (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Khutu Mchunu, Mashao Mukhari, Carlu Sadie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Abram Venter (Toyota Free State Cheetahs).

Hookers - Abraham Coetzee (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), Johan Grobbelaar, Marnus van der Merwe (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), HP van Schoor.

Locks - Ruben de Villers, Salmaan Moerat, Reinhard Nothnagel, Hendre Stassen, Ruben van Heerden, Cobus Wiese.

Loose forwards - Juarno Augustus, Jaco Bezuidenhout, Hacjivah Dayimani, Zain Davids, Eduan Lubbe, Len Massyn, Kuyenzeka Xaba, Muller Uys, Ernst van Rhyn.

Scrumhalves - Francois de Villiers, Embrose Papier (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Bradley Thain, Wayne van der Bank, Jondre Williams.

Flyhalves - Curwin Bosch, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse.

Centres - Irvin Ali, Heino Bezuidenhout, Stedman Gans, Manuel Rass, Wandisile Simelane, Cornel Smit.

Wingers - Ciaran Dayaram, Ilunga Mukendi, Mfundo Ndhlovu, Michael Tambwe.

Fullbacks - Gianni Lombard, Yaw Penxe.