Springbok captain John Smit will be released from national duty to fulfil his commitments to French club Clermont, SA Rugby announced on Wednesday.
Smit would return to Clermont on June 15 to play in the French Top 14 semifinals on June 21 and the final on June 28 if necessary, SA Rugby said in a statement.
The hooker will play in both of South Africa’s Tests against Wales (June 7 and 14) in Bloemfontein and Pretoria, but will be unavailable for the Test against Italy on June 21 in Cape Town.
Fellow World Cup winner Percy Montgomery will also be released to finish the French Top 14 season with Perpignan should they qualify for the semifinals after this weekend’s round of matches.
Smit, fullback Montgomery, lock Victor Matfield and flyhalf Butch James will all join the Springbok training squad on May 26, the statement said.
Matfield and James, who were key figures in South Africa’s World Cup triumph last year, have both finished their overseas commitments with Toulon and Bath respectively.
SA Rugby also announced that Stormers scrumhalf Bolla Conradie had been added to the squad to cover for injuries to the Bulls duo of Fourie du Preez and Heini Adams. — Reuters