South Africa have scrapped a ban on picking overseas-based players, opening the way for new coach Rassie Erasmus to name a full-strength side to take on England in their three-Test series next month.
Governing body SA Rugby ended the overseas-based player policy just over a year after bringing it into effect.
The rule prevented the Springboks from selecting overseas-based players who had fewer than 30 Test caps.
The measure was an attempt to stem a growing tide of players leaving South Africa to sign more lucrative contracts at clubs in Britain, France, Ireland and Japan.
It was set to be lifted next year in preparation for the 2019 World Cup.
“Rassie is in his last year of preparation before the World Cup, so he can select any overseas-based player,” SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said.
“He has just 18 Tests in which to prepare for the World Cup, so we gave him grace.
“Rassie has already spoken to a few players who are playing overseas. From now until the World Cup, he wants to give as many players as possible the chance to show what they can do for the Boks.”
It was not immediately clear if the ban on overseas players was being scrapped permanently or just until the end of the next World Cup.
Erasmus is likely to grab the opportunity to bring back halfback Faf de Klerk, considered among the outstanding performers in this season’s English Premiership.
De Klerk had won 11 caps before he left the Lions to play for the Sale Sharks.
The decision also offers Vincent Koch and Juan de Jongh a chance to get back into the Springbok squad.
Erasmus’s first Test in charge is against Wales in Washington DC on June 2, a week before South Africa’s first clash against England.
The new coach has just over a year to prepare for the next World Cup in Japan, where the Boks meet defending champions New Zealand in their opening game in Yokohama on September 21, 2019.
Superba
Guest
French club competition now considering to limit foreign players to 5/23 .
Reluctantly agree Clyde
Bakkies
Guest
Needs to get on the pitch first.
Mzilikazi
Guest
Only sensible thing for the Boks to do. Am very pleased that again a full Springbok side will run out. Probably very bad news for England. Australia should do the same...and NOW !!
Derm
Roar Guru
Erasmus can pick players he coached in Munster - Jean Kleyn, Chris Cloete, Gerbrandt Grobler. From Ulster - Wiehann Herbst, Marcel Coetzee, Schalk van Der Merwe, Jean Deysel,Louis Ludik.
Johnno
Guest
exactly, im sick of australian sides just picking locals and haveing endless losses for the so-called good of the wallabies, im sick of super rugby glory in australia being devalued and losses tolerated to so-called help the wallabies.. No wonder fans don't care about super rugby as rugby australia have no pride in super rugby and couldn't care less about super rugby losses eg like reds in tokyo as an example and never beating kiwi teams...
Clyde
Guest
It is an admission that the war on preventing players from leaving for big money contracts in Europe cannot be won. The SA experienced professional rugby base of players no longer plays super rugby, when you have enough quality players to fill four or five full strength super rugby teams playing in European leagues. SARU’s best move is to join them and have the young inexperienced base of players stationed in SA play in the same time zone and competitions as the experienced base of players. NZ too will one day also be left with a young and inexperienced base of players when the majority of their experience ends up playing in Europe.
Harry Jones
Expert
Good news. Best players in the Bok jersey.
Drongo
Guest
This is needed for every nation. The limitations on foreign players in SR should also go. Free movement between franchises should be allowed. This promotes a higher quality competition and brings in sponsorship. Look at all of the most successful competitions in the world. Ring-fencing your players eventually destroys any competition. SR is between franchises, not nations so why limit player transfer?
Johnno
Guest
Excellent move in so many ways, why? 1) More locals will get a chance at super rugby: Yes players will move overseas, but SA has so much young talent that when players go away young guys will get a start to widen the depth... 2) Experienced foreign imports in SA super rugby sides: If local depth is a problem, or SA wants the young super rugby bucks to get some guidance they can just get some experienced foreign imports to come in and step up and guide them eg Gareth Delve types, so depth won't be a problem under this new Bok rule change.. 3)Best Bok side possible: It means the best will be on the park not just "local Boks" and 60-test Boks from overseas.. Wallabies take note, this should be the future to for OZ rugby, but no RA are getting more stubborn and will ban foreign imports next year, they would rather keep on losing to trial locals for wallaby selection one day than beat kiwi sides with experienced imports, RA only care about the wallabies and nothing else, a wrong way to play..
Jonty Shonty
Roar Pro
Marcel Coetzee
AndyS
Guest
Logical move if they are planning to further align with Europe. If they stick with it for a bit before that, will be interesting to see what if anything it does to the flow of players.
Muzzo
Guest
I reckon Rassie will go well as the new Bokke coach, as long as the idiot government get rid of the quota system, which doesn't allow the best players available to be selected. Give Rassie the cattle, we have seen running around in Super Rugby, then the world will see a far different beast, in the Bokke jersey.
95Bok
Guest
Great, Chris Cloete, Paul Wilemase, Faf, Koch, Serfontein, Willie Le roux, should all get a look in.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Harry... Christmas has come early!! :)
Redsfan1
Guest
Makes sense. It happens in Association Football so why not rugby.