Johannesburg - New Lions signing Lionel Mapoe will be able to join Paul Treu’s Springbok Sevens squad if his services are required, Golden Lions president Kevin de Klerk said on Monday.
"We would certainly release him to the Sevens squad up until the start of the Super 15," said De Klerk.
Mapoe has not played since May when his contractual dispute with the Cheetahs started.
He then moved to Durban where he trained with the Sharks for most of the season.
He was finally snapped up by the Lions after he decided to drop his appeal against Bloemfontein High Court ruling that indicated that his contract with the Cheetahs was valid.
De Klerk confirmed that Mapoe had been in contact with the Lions’ conditioning coach Wayne Taylor and was in great shape and ready to play.
Paul Treu’s Vipers Sevens squad departed on Tuesday for the Singapore Cricket Club's Sevens tournament where they will look to bag their third consecutive title victory.
Treu had earlier asked that Mapoe be included in the South African Sevens squad for the Commonwealth Games, held in India. Mapoe was not permitted to go.
It remains to be seen whether the former Sevens star will feature in Treu’s immediate plans.
The SA Vipers squad: Kyle Brown, Frankie Horne, Lubabalo Mtembu, Jacques Engelbrecht, Jonathan Mokuena, Branco du Preez, Mark Richards, Bernado Botha, Sibusiso Sithole, Howard Noble, Logan Basson, Pieter Engelbrecht.