OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday 9.30am.
SPRINGBOK and Mpumalanga Pumas scrumhalf Dan van Zyl is hoping for a recall into the Springbok rugby side after signing a contract to play for Western Province on Monday.
Van Zyl toured Europe with the Springboks last year, but has fallen out of favour with national coach Nick Mallett after not performing well with the Pumas. Van Zyl, who also played provincial cricket for Northerns, was scheduled to leave the Pumas next year, but the Union agreed to an early release.
Van Zyl will have his first practice with his Province teammates on Tuesday morning, and may well play his first game in the Province strip on Saturday, when Boland meet the current Currie Cup champions at Newlands.
Van Zyl’s availabilty will be a welcome break for Province as their regular scrumhalves, Joggie Viljoen and Jopie Adlam, are struggling with injuries.
Province have agreed to loan up-and-coming young lock Brett Barrett to the Pumas until the end of the Currie Cup season in October, in return for the services of Van Zyl.
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