Cape Town - The Junior Springbok training squad wrapped up the last of their three short camps in Stellenbosch on Friday as their preparation continues to take shape for the World Rugby U20 Championship, which begins in exactly two months.

The squad will assemble in Stellenbosch again on Monday, April 9, for a two-week camp, where they will play two matches against World Rugby U20 Championship pool opponents, Georgia.

This will be followed by a UK Tour where they will face Scotland, Wales and England respectively.

The World Rugby U20 Championship will be hosted in the south of France from May 30 to June 17, with the SA U20s facing Georgia, Ireland and hosts France in Pool C.

“Our preparation for the U20 Championship is well on track with the three short camps now completed, and I am satisfied with where we are as a team at this point,” said Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux. “Our focus up until now has been on putting the structures in place, getting the players to familiarise themselves with the way we want to play, and on conditioning, and I am pleased with the strides made in those areas.

“With matches lined up at the next camp, we will begin the transition into match mode.”

Roux was particularly pleased with the spirit within in the group and added: “The players showed immense character at the last three camps, especially under pressure, and they have a fantastic energy, which is pleasing as the international spectacle kicks off in two months.

“One cannot coach team spirit, so we are really pleased that the players have developed that so early on.”

With the tournament drawing closer, Roux will again reduce the size of his training squad for the next camp with an eye on getting closer to selecting the 28-member World Rugby U20 Championship squad late in April.