The South African Rugby Union (SARU) wants Jaque Fourie to again be available for Springbok selection.
Sport24
A top-level source at SARU said that they are in discussions with Fourie’s Japanese club, Kobe Steelers, to release him for international duty.
It could be in time for the Boks’ Rugby Championship tour to Australasia, but a more realistic date may be the end-of-year tour to Europe.
“We are still negotiating (with his club for the tour of Australia and New Zealand), but things are a bit relaxed now because the guys are on tour,” the source revealed.
“Hopefully he can play on the end-of-year tour.”
Fourie, 30, signed a two-year deal with the Steelers last year and said at the time he would not be available to play for the Springboks during his time in Japan.
But SARU is hoping to lure him back the same way they did with scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, whose Japanese club, Suntory Sungoliath, agreed released him for the home games in the Rugby Championship.
The last of Fourie’s 69 Tests came in the 2011 Rugby World Cup quarter-final loss to Australia in Wellington, New Zealand.
No man, if Jaque wants to play for the Bokke, let him make the move… let him express the desire… and possibly move back to SA!
It’s understandable to use the current overseas based starting Springboks who have still played Super Rugby in 2013 and to draft in Fourie du Preez when South Africa is struggling with fit Springbok scrumhalves… but to go throw the door wide open for everybody is a bit nuts!
In fact the Bokke must slowly start weaning off those overseas choices, for instance phase out Juandré Kruger by letting Flip and Etzebeth play as starting locks, phase out Chiliboy Ralepelle, he’s 3rd hooker choice anyway. Also phase out Zane Kirchner, he is not required. Phase out Ruan Pienaar, we saw last saturday what a real scrumhalf could and should do.
I’d keep Bryan Habana, Francois Louw, Morné Steyn & Fourie du Preez as the only overseas players, because they are very difficult to replace at the moment and I’d lure Fourie du Preez back to SA as soon as possible, maybe even to play in a large part of Super Rugby 2014.
Look, don’t get me wrong, I think Jaque Fourie is / was a great Springbok, but this is taking it a bit far!
@ grootblousmile:
Read that JJE has a groin injury. Looks like he still may start this week. So not sure how serious it is. If he can’t start this week we will have to move JdV over to outside centre and start with Jan.
No other player has really played that well at outside centre this year except for JJE. If that injury becomes more serious I expect us to see Fourie sooner than later with the Boks this year. Well that is if they can get him released.
Unlike at scrum half, we have plenty of centres
Time to learn a LOT from NZ, we are not catching up with all our thinking. Rest players , give them a few months off with their families. Tell them if they leave they say GOOD BYE BOKKE, we produce enough its their choice. The fact is who of us followed FduP and JF in Japan? Be honest who? Certainly no one on RT , we never ran any article about the Japanese league, so if they leave its good bye, enjoy your Jens or Dollars but we will go on. In the mean time lets be strict to the young ones here tell them if you want Springbok colors , you must commit, just like NZ do. Maybe then we can regain the PRIDE for the Jersey.
Fark its out i am so bloody upset with the KIDS ruling our lives.
Lets show them who is boss.
Maybe a good thing is to contract them at u/20 level for 3 years
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