SA Rugby to allow greater number of foreigners to play in local teams

The South African Rugby Union (Saru) have reportedly changed their regulations around the number of foreign players permitted to play in local teams.

The 14 provinces can now have five non-South African players on their books when the previous total was just two.

The likely reason is that local squads are increasingly stressed because of the volume of rugby played during a 12-month season. South African teams are not attractive to players from the northern hemisphere and Australasia because of the weak rand, but it is not the case for players from neighboring countries in Namibia and Zimbabwe, and further afield in Africa.

As reported over the weekend, the amended Rule 27 was unanimously approved by Saru’s executive council. Provinces can now have five foreign players in their squad but only three can do duty in a particular day squad.

The rule change will assist a team like the Cheetahs. They currently employ Namibians in utility-back Tiaan Swanepoel, hooker Louis van der Westhuizen and prop Aranos Coetzee, but have only been allowed to play two of them at a time.

Over the years, several foreign players have gained South African citizenship through residency and gone on to play for the Springboks. Cases in point are former Zimbabweans Tonderai Chavhanga and Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira.

In this vein, the Sharks’ DRC-born Tshituka brothers, Manu and Vincent, recently received their South African citizenship and ID cards. They are known to be on Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus' wider radar.

The Sharks currently have a talented flank from Zimbabwe in Tino Mavesere, while Lions wing Tapiwa Mafura is also Zimbabwean.

Over the decades, the occasional international star has played in South Africa. Among that number is current Springbok attack coach Tony Brown, who had seasons with both the Sharks and Stormers.

The Scotland national coach, Gregor Townsend, is another international flyhalf to have played for the Sharks.