Springboks to shun overseas stars

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- South Africa's leading players have been dealt a heavy blow after the country's rugby chiefs decided that players basing themselves abroad would no longer be eligible for the national team.

The decision by the South African Rugby Union's President's Council means some of the Springboks' superstars will play their last matches for their country at this year's World Cup in France. The tournament runs between September 7 and October 20.

Springbok captain John Smit, lock forward Victor Matfield, hooker Gary Botha and wing Ashwin Willemse are the big-name stars who have signed up with clubs in France and England for the forthcoming European season.

Others players heading north include Brent Russell, Gerrie Britz, Bob Skinstad, Percy Montgomery and a handful of promising youngsters including Cheetahs Super 14 players Philip Burger and Ronnie Cooke.

South Africa's rugby bosses have decided the only way to halt the exodus is to ban the overseas based players from coming into contention for the Springbok side.

"It's a really tricky situation, but we had to draw the line somewhere," SARU president Oregan Hoskins told Friday's Johannesburg based Star newspaper.

"We want to reward the guys who stay in South Africa and further encourage them to remain here," added Hoskins.

Up to 100 South African born players, including a number of former Test players, are currently in action in France, Wales, England and Italy.

In recent times Springbok coach Jake White has selected overseas-based players for the national team, most notably fullback Percy Montgomery and fly-half Jaco van der Westhuyzen.

Saracens prop Cobus Visagie was also called up when the Boks were on tour in Australia during the Tri-Nations series.

Hoskins said those call-ups were an exception after the rules in the country had been relaxed because White really wanted those specific players for his team.

"We're now simply reverting back to what the rule was and that means if a guy doesn't play locally he won't be allowed to play for South Africa," Hoskins told The Star.

He added: "If we allow guys to keep on leaving we'll also be robbing the public of seeing the best players in action." E-mail to a friend