This was done on request from the Sharks in order to not distract their players ahead of the knock-out fixtures.

Players from the Sharks who have been selected for the squad will be announced following their side’s completion of the competition.

"I want to emphasise that this is a training squad, not a Test squad," said De Villiers. "I have selected certain players to work with them in a squad environment alongside the country's finest players, and others because I felt I had not seen enough of them during the Vodacom Super 14.

"I want to congratulate all the players who were named, and I look forward to working with them all next week."

The squad assembles on Wednesday 21 May and includes three overseas-based players including World Cup winning captain John Smit (Clermont Auvergne, France), Butch James (Bath, England), Percy Montgomery (Perpignan, France) and Victor Matfield (Toulon, France).

All three could be engaged in domestic duties with their clubs next week and their release for the training camp could be denied.

Among the newcomers is Western Province flyhalf Isma-eel Dollie, a 23-year-old who has played for his country at all junior levels including under De Villiers in the Springbok under-21 side.

Other new faces include are Northern Bulls scrumhalf Heini Adams, Golden Lions lock forward Gerhard Mostert, Western Stormers lock Andries Bekker, Stormers hooker Schalk Brit, Stormers prop Brian Mujati, Cheetahs loose forward Duane Vermeulen, Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner, Lions fullback Louis Ludik and flyhalf/fullback Earl Rose.

There are also recalls for Central Cheetahs centre Meyer Bosman, wingers Jonghi Nokwe (Cheetahs) and Tonderai Chavangha (Stormers), flankers Kabamba Floors (Cheetahs) and Hilton Lobberts (Bulls), hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls) and loose forward Joe van Niekerk (Lions).

Centre Gcobani Bobo (Stormers) and fullback Conrad Jantjes (Stormers) are also in the mix as is Bulls No.8 Pierre Spies who missed last year's World Cup because of a lung illness.

Injured flanker Schalk Burger (Stormers) has also been called up, but he will have to prove he has recovered from a knee injury.

The majority of the victorious World Cup squad remains intact - the exceptions being Os du Randt and Bob Skinstad (retired), Andre Pretorius (injured), Wayne Julies and Gary Botha.

The Springboks face Wales in Bloemfontein on June 7 and a week later in the second Test in Pretoria.

Backs
Heini Adams, Gcobani Bobo, Meyer Bosman, Tonderai Chavhanga, Jean de Villiers, Isma-eel Dollie, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Peter Grant, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Enrico Januarie, Conrad Jantjes, Zane Kirchner, Louis Ludik, Percy Montgomery, Akona Ndungane, Jongi Nokwe, Wynand Olivier, Earl Rose.

Forwards
Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Wian du Preez, Kabamba Floors, Hilton Lobberts, Victor Matfield, Gerhard Mostert, Brian Mujati, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, John Smit (c), Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Gurthrö Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Heinke van der Merwe, Wikus van Heerden, Joe van Niekerk, Duanne Vermeulen, Luke Watson.

Biographies:

Heini ADAMS (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 29.05.80.  Height: 1.68m  Weight: 67kg
International record: Uncapped

Gcobani BOBO (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 12.09.79.  Height: 1.80m  Weight: 90kg
International record: 5 caps

Meyer BOSMAN (Vodacom Cheetahs)
DoB: 19.04.85.  Height: 1.91m  Weight: 94kg
International record: 3 caps (7 pts – 2C, 1P)

Tonderai CHAVHANGA (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 24.12.83.  Height: 1.84m  Weight: 86kg
International record: 2 caps (30 pts – 6T)

Jean DE VILLIERS (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 24.02.81.  Height: 1.90m  Weight: 100kg
International record: 33 caps (65 pts – 13T)

Isma-eel DOLLIE (Vodacom Western Province)
DoB: 06.03.85.  Height: 1.71m  Weight: 79kg
International record: Uncapped

Fourie DU PREEZ (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 24.03.82.  Height: 1.83m  Weight: 88kg
International record: 38 caps (45 pts – 9T)

Jaque FOURIE (Auto & General Lions)
DoB: 04.03.83.  Height: 1.88m  Weight: 96kg
International record: 38 caps (110 pts – 22T)

Peter GRANT (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 15.08.84.  Height: 1.88m  Weight: 90kg
International record: 2 caps

Bryan HABANA (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 12.06.83.  Height: 1.79m  Weight: 92kg
International record: 36 caps (150 pts – 30T)

Butch JAMES (Bath)
DoB: 08.07.79.  Height: 1.85m  Weight: 97kg
International record: 26 caps (61 pts – 3T, 5C, 12P)

Enrico JANUARIE (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 01.02.82.  Height: 1.70m  Weight: 80kg
International record: 22 caps (15 pts – 3T)

Conrad JANTJES (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 24.03.80.  Height: 1.84m  Weight: 90kg
International record: 11 caps (17 pts – 3T, 1C)

Zane KIRCHNER (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 16.06.84.  Height: 1.84m  Weight: 92kg
International record: Uncapped

Louis LUDIK (Auto & General Lions)
DoB: 08.10.86.  Height: 1.82m  Weight: 92kg
International record: Uncapped

Percy MONTGOMERY (Perpignan)
DoB: 15.03.74.  Height: 1.82m  Weight: 87kg
International record: 94 caps (873 pts – 24T, 150C, 145P, 6D)

Akona NDUNGANE (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 20.02.81.  Height: 1.83m  Weight: 86kg
International record: 11 caps (5 pts – 1T)

Jongi NOKWE (Vodacom Cheetahs)
DoB: 30.12.81.  Height: 1.82m  Weight: 80kg
International record: Uncapped

Wynand OLIVIER (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 11.06.83.  Height: 1.84m  Weight: 87kg
International record: 21 caps

Earl ROSE (Auto & General Lions)
DoB: 12.01.84.  Height: 1.80m  Weight: 77kg
International record: Uncapped

FORWARDS:

Andries BEKKER (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 05.12.83.  Height: 2.08m  Weight: 120kg
International record: Uncapped

Bakkies BOTHA (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 12.09.79.  Height: 2.02m  Weight: 118kg
International record: 45 caps (35 pts – 7T)

Schalk BRITS (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 16.05.81.  Height: 1.82m  Weight: 98kg
International record: Uncapped

Schalk BURGER (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 13.04.83.  Height: 1.93m  Weight: 110kg
International record: 39 caps (50 pts – 10T)

Wian DU PREEZ (Vodacom Cheetahs)
DoB: 30.10.82.  Height: 1.85m  Weight: 113kg
International record: Uncapped

Kabamba FLOORS (Vodacom Cheetahs)
DoB: 15.11.80.  Height: 1.75m  Weight: 84kg
International record: 1 cap

Hilton LOBBERTS (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 11.06.86.  Height: 1.90m  Weight: 102kg
International record: 2 caps

Victor MATFIELD (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 11.05.77.  Height: 2.01m  Weight: 110kg
International record: 67 caps (25 pts – 5T)

Gerhard MOSTERT (Auto & General Lions)
DoB: 04.10.84.  Height: 1.99m  Weight: 110kg
International record: Uncapped

BRIAN MUJATI (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 28.09.84.  Height: 1.81m  Weight: 116kg
International record: Uncapped

Chiliboy RALEPELLE (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 11.09.86.  Height: 1.78m  Weight: 95kg
International record: 2 caps

Danie ROSSOUW (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 05.06.78.  Height: 1.97m  Weight: 118kg
International record: 31 caps (30pts – 6T)

John SMIT – captain (Clermont)
DoB: 03.04.78.  Height: 1.88m  Weight: 116kg
International record: 75 caps (20pts – 4T)

Juan SMITH (Vodacom Cheetahs)
DoB: 30.07.81.  Height: 1.94m  Weight: 106kg
International record: 42 caps (50pts – 10T)

Pierre SPIES (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 08.06.85.  Height: 1.95m  Weight: 106kg
International record: 9 caps (10pts – 2T)

Gurthrö STEENKAMP (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 12.06.81.  Height: 1.89m  Weight: 124kg
International record: 13 caps (5pts – 1T)

CJ VAN DER LINDE (Vodacom Cheetahs)
DoB: 27.08.80.  Height: 1.90m  Weight: 122kg
International record: 48 caps (20pts – 4T)

Heinke VAN DER MERWE (Auto & General Lions)
DoB: 03.05.85.  Height: 1.82m  Weight: 110kg
International record: 1 cap

Wikus VAN HEERDEN (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 25.02.79.  Height: 1.95m  Weight: 104kg
International record: 14 caps (5pts – 1T)

Joe VAN NIEKERK (Auto & General Lions)
DoB: 14.05.80.  Height: 1.92m  Weight: 106kg
International record: 46 caps (40pts – 8T)

Duanne VERMEULEN (Vodacom Cheetahs)
DoB: 03.07.86.  Height: 1.92m  Weight: 90kg
International record: Uncapped

Luke WATSON (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 26.10.83.  Height: 1.84m  Weight: 97kg
International record: 1 cap