Latest: New Ulster signing receives first Springboks call-up ahead of summer Test series
New Ulster signing Juarno Augustus has been named in the Springboks’ wider squad for their upcoming international Test matches in June and July.
The rampaging number eight, who will move to Ravenhill over the summer from North
ampton Saints, is one of nine uncapped players called up to Rassie Erasmus’ 54-man extended panel.
South Africa begin their summer schedule with a game against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28, followed by Tests against Italy in Pretoria and Gqeberha on July 5 and 12 respectively and finishing off against Georgia in Nelspruit on July 19.
It seems unlikely that 27-year-old Augustus will see any game time as six of the eight back rowers from the Springboks’ last squad have been retained, including reigning and two-time World Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit and captain Siya Kolisi.
However, it says much about the Alexander Bay native that he has been included in the squad after being part of last month’s national alignment camp, with Erasmus clearly a fan of the Ulster-bound back row.
Augustus has been in red-hot form for Northampton this season and only missed out on their Champions Cup Final against Bordeaux due to injury, helping them reach their first decider since 2011 with a bulldozing performance against Leinster in the Semi-Finals.
His call-up, however, could prove to be an issue for Ulster, who were anticipating the former Stormers man being available for the start of the United Rugby Championship campaign on September 26 but may now be without him should he see any action for his country.
Even more concerning would be if he impresses sufficiently to be called up to the Springboks squad for firstly the Rugby Championship, which extends into the first weekend of October, and then the Autumn Internationals, when Erasmus’ men face France, Italy, Ireland and Wales in November
While Ulster would never prevent a player from representing their country, the intention was for Augustus to be a fulcrum at the centre of their forward pack in their bid to return to the URC Play-Offs next season, and being without one of their marquee players for a significant period – Ulster have six League games before the end of November – would be less than ideal for head coach Richie Murphy.
The province are well-stocked in the back row, with James McNabney emerging last season alongside Ireland flanker Nick Timoney and David McCann, and Ireland lock Cormac Izuchukwu also able to step in at blindside flanker, but Augustus was set to provide a new dimension to the loose forward trio.
