Evan Roos finds himself excluded from the Springboks’ 36-man squad for the upcoming tour of the UK and Europe, reigniting questions about his international future. The powerful Stormers eighthman, despite a scintillating start to the United Rugby Championship (URC) season, has been relegated to the standby list....Click to Read More >>➤

This decision leaves the world champions with a solitary specialist eighthman, Jasper Wiese, for the demanding northern hemisphere tour. While captain Siya Kolisi and utility forward Kwagga Smith have filled the number eight role previously, and others like Ben-Jason Dixon could provide emergency cover, the absence of a dedicated backup for Wiese is notable.

The situation presents a significant concern for Evan Roos. His path to the Springbok jersey is set to become even more congested next year with the expected returns of injured rivals Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom. This tour represented a prime, perhaps his best, opportunity to solidify his claim as Wiese’s primary understudy ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

His sole appearance for the Springboks this season was a brief 24-minute stint off the bench against Italy in July. Barring injuries during the November tests, that may be his only action in the green and gold this year, with the possibility that even Juarno Augustus could be called upon ahead of him.

Scintillating URC Form

Roos’s form for the Stormers makes his omission all the more puzzling. In just four appearances this campaign, he has crossed the try line four times and earned two man-of-the-match awards, against Ospreys and Zebre. His powerful performances have been a key driver in propelling his franchise to the top of the URC table.

Despite this undeniable impact, his efforts have not been enough to convince national director of rugby Rassie Erasmus. The Springbok management has previously been transparent about player development needs, as seen with Aphelele Fassi, who was given clear directives on improving his defence before earning a recall and becoming a fixture in the squad.

What Does Evan Roos Need to Do?

This precedent leads to the pressing question: what exactly does Evan Roos need to do to secure a consistent place in the Springbok setup? While Erasmus has stated he knows what Roos offers, the continued exclusion of a player in such dominant form, especially in a position where depth is currently being tested, leaves many supporters and pundits seeking a clearer explanation. For a talent of his caliber, understanding the specific areas requiring improvement seems a fair and crucial step in his quest to become a Springbok regular. ...Click to Read More >>➤