Handre Pollard and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi headline the list of Springboks unavailable for selection. Here is the full list.
A total of SIXTEEN prominent Springboks may be unavailable for selection picture due to current club commitments.
As was previously reported on The South African, Rassie Erasmus has decided not to participate in the second Springbok training alignment camp. This is a result of imprecise communication regarding the players who will be fit to play against Wales in July.
We thus disclose the athletes who will not be selected keeping this in mind.
Rassie won’t be picking any athletes who are presently competing in Europe. In addition, the URC final is set for June 22, which also happens to be the day of the Springboks’ 2024 season opener. In other words, depending on how each club performs, a number of Bulls and Stormers players can also be unavailable.
FULL LIST OF KEY SPRINGBOKS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION
FORWARDS:
- Siya Kolisi
- Steven Kitshoff
- Trevor Nyakane
- RG Snyman
- Jean Kleyn
- Marco van Staden
- Deon Fourie
- Jasper Wiese
BACKS:
- Cobus Reinach
- Handre Pollard
- Manie Libbok
- Andre Esterhuizen
- Kurt-Lee Arendse
- Canan Moodie
- Willie le Roux
- Damian Willemse
BACK THESE BOKS TO COME BACK
Kolisi (Racing 92), the captain of the Springboks, is not exempt from club obligations. In other words, the Springboks might need to choose a new captain for the test matchup with Wales. Also unavailable for selection are fellow forwards Kitshoff (Ulster), Nyakane (Racing 92), Snyman (Munster), Kleyn (Munster), and Wiese (Leicester Tigres). Furthermore, because Reinach (Montpellier), Pollard (Leicester Tigers), and Esterhuizen (Harlequins) are currently playing in Europe, these players will not be available for the backline.
Top URC players were not available for the Bulls and Stormers URC participation in the interim.
“This means that Leicester-based Handre Pollard and Stormers playmaker Manie Libbok are set to be among a mass of players unavailable for the Springboks. This is also likely to include props Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe, locks RG Snyman and Jean Kleyn, loose forwards Marco van Staden, Jasper Wiese and The report on SARugbyMag stated, “Siya Kolisi, scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, wings Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse, and fullback Willie le Roux.”
Furthermore, that implies that if the Stormers or Bulls are still in the frame, Willemse and Fourie would likewise be unavailable. These Rugby World Cup winners are unquestionably important components of the Springboks’ successful machine.
For this reason, the majority of the players on the list—if not all of them—are anticipated to participate in both the Rugby Championship and the pivotal test series against Ireland.
