Four Kings' men get nod

Southern Kings captain Lionel Cronje and three of his team members have been rewarded for their efforts with call-ups to the third and final Springbok training camp next week.

Bok coach Allister Coetzee included Cronje, openside flank Chris Cloete, No8 Andisa Ntsila and wing Makazole Mapimpi from the Kings in his 39-man group.

Sharks lock Ruan Botha and Stormers wing Dillyn Leyds join five new Lions players at the camp in Johannesburg from May 21-23. Prop Ruan Dreyer, scrumhalf Ross Cronje, centre Harold Vorster, wing Courtnall Skosan and fullback Andries Coetzee have been added from South Afrca's Super Rugby pacesetters.

Bulls fullback Warrick Gelant and veteran hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle are back in the mix as well.

At the conclusion of the camp on May 23, the Springbok squad of 31 players for June's home Tests against France will be announced, as well as the 26-man South Africa "A" squad for matches against the French Barbarians.

After next week's announcement, the Springbok squad gather in Plettenberg Bay from May 28 to June 4 to continue preparing for the French series.

No Cheetahs players were included as they are on tour in New Zealand. As with the first two camps, there are also no overseas-based players in the training squad.

Next week's final training camp in Johannesburg will give Coetzee and his management team a last chance to have a close look at several candidates before the Bok coach announces his first official Springbok group of the year.

"This camp gives us another chance to widen the net and have another, closer, look at certain positions," said Coetzee.

"We will announce the Springbok and South Africa 'A' squads after the camp but there are still a number of positions up for grabs."

The "A" team will play the French Barbarians in Durban on June 16 and in Johannesburg on June 23. The squad for the May 21-23 camp is:

Lukhanyo Am, Ruan Botha, Chris Cloete, Andries Coetzee, Lionel Cronje, Ross Cronje, Damian de Allende, Lood de Jager, Ruan Dreyer, Jean-Luc du Preez, Thomas du Toit, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Dewaldt Duvenage, Eben Etzebeth, Warrick Gelant, Lizo Gqoboka, Elton Jantjies, Siya Kolisi, Jaco Kriel, Jesse Kriel, Pat Lambie, Dillyn Leyds, Frans Malherbe, Makazole Mapimpi, Lionel Mapoe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Andisa Ntsila, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan, Jano Vermaak, Harold Vorster, Warren Whiteley.

- TMG Digital