Jersey‘s government says it will give Visit Jersey a grant of up to £50,000 to support the South Africa Men’s rugby union team when they hold a training camp in the island at the end of October.The grant will be paid to the island’s tourism board by the end of 2024 as a ‘top up’ payment to support efforts to host the Springboks who are the current world champions which Jersey’s government says is an ‘additional in-year promotional opportunity’.It was revealed that the Springboks would be holding a week-long trip from 28 October to 3 November back in July ahead of their autumn internationals against Scotland, England and Wales.

The team will be holding a public training session on 2 November, meaning islanders can see what makes the four-time World Cup winners tick. Rassie Erasmus’s side will also take part in a three-day youth camp for the island’s aspiring rugby players between the ages of nine and 12-years-old.Last week, Deputy Kirsten Morel, Jersey’s Sustainable Economic Development Minister, said he hopes the Springboks’ visit will “boost the visitor economy” and “put Jersey on the map”, something he hopes will attract other elite sports teams to train on the island .The England men’s rugby union team and the British and Irish Lions have trained in Jersey previously.

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Eben Etzebeth set to become winningest Springbok EVER

Eben Etzebeth is set to become the Springbok to have tasted victory most often on Saturday in Argentina. Here’s more …

Eben Etzebeth is set to become the Springbok to have tasted victory most often on Saturday in Argentina.

That is, of course, if the Springboks triumph in their Rugby Championship clash against the Pumas in Santiago – and Etzebeth comes off the bench to enter the fray.

Kick-off is at 23:00 (SA time).

Coach Rassie Erasmus named his 23-man matchday squad earlier this week, and, as reported by The South African website, Etzebeth will start on the bench.

Should he come off the bench, Etzebeth will tie Victor Matfield for the most Springbok Test caps of all time – 127.

Only five other players – out of the 944 to have worn the famed green and gold jersey – have to date reached the 100-Test milestone.

With the Springboks set to play five more Tests in 2024 (including the clash against the Pumas), assuming he stays injury-free, Etzebeth will assume the outright mantle of most-capped Springbok well before the year is out.

He could potentially break the record in the ‘return’ Rugby Championship fixture against Argentina on Saturday, 28 September at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Etzebeth still has ample time on his side considering he will only turn 33 in late October.

Matfield, Etzebeth and Bryan Habana are incredibly, all tied on 79 Test victories.

Etzebeth will have the opportunity to hold that ‘record’ on his own come the final whistle this weekend.

* Denotes still active

Below, every Springbok – past and present – to have played 80 or more Tests ahead of the tour to Argentina:

TEAMS

ARGENTINA

TBA

SOUTH AFRICA

15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 14 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), 13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), 12 – Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 10 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), 9 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), 8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks), 7 – Ben-Jason Dixon (Stormers), 6 – Marco van Staden (Bulls), 5 – Ruan Nortje (Bulls), 4 – Salmaan Moerat (captain, Stormers), 3 – Thomas du Toit (Bath), 2 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), 1 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Substitutes: 16 – Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), 17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (VBulls), 18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 19 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 20 – Elrigh Louw (Bulls), 21- Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), 22 – Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 23 – Manie Libbok (Stormers)