JJ van der Mescht Eyes Springboks Call-Up After Impressive Northampton Stint
JJ van der Mescht, the Northampton second row, has been called into a virtual alignment camp by the Springboks, putting him in contention for a senior South Africa call-up. Despite representing South Africa Under-20s at the 2019 age-grade World Championships, he has yet to earn a cap for the senior side. At just 26 years old, Van der Mescht has showcased exceptional form since joining Northampton Saints from Stade Francais last summer. His performance statistics are impressive, with only team-mate Sam Graham registering a higher percentage of dominant carries among Premiership forwards, according to Opta. Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus praised Van der Mescht, stating that he has "performed really well for his club this season." His inclusion in an online meeting for overseas-based players highlights his growing prominence in South African rugby. Reflecting on his aspirations, Van der Mescht remarked, "For every South African, it is a target to play for South Africa. Since you're a little kid, you always want to play for the Springboks," during an interview with BBC Look East in January.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-03-17