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Boks released for Currie Cup duty

Cape Town - Players who failed to make the final 31-man Springbok Rugby World Cup squad have rejoined their respective provinces for Absa Currie Cup duty.

Out of the original 49 players named prior to this year's Rugby Championship, 18 will either be available for their South African provinces or jet off to rejoin their overseas clubs.

This means Warren Whiteley (Golden Lions), Vincent Koch (Pumas), Cornal Hendricks (Free State Cheetahs), Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Sharks), Scarra Ntubeni (Western Province), Oupa Mohoje (Free State Cheetahs), Franco Mostert (Golden Lions), Marcel van der Merwe (Blue Bulls), Jan Serfontein (Blue Bulls), Steven Kitshoff (Western Province) and Frans Steyn (Sharks) can be considered for Currie Cup duty from this weekend.

Players like Heinrich Brussow (Docomo Red Hurricanes, Japan), Elton Jantjies (NTT Shining Arcs, Japan), Jaque Fourie (Kobelco Steelers, Japan), Lionel Mapoe (Kubota Spears, Japan) and Heinke van der Merwe (Stade Francais, France) will head for their overseas clubs.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed to Sport24 that players have been placed on standby for the tournament, but the list won't be made public.

The Boks start their World Cup campaign against Japan in Brighton on September 19.

Their second pool game is on September 26 against Samoa in Birmingham, before Tests against Scotland in Newcastle on October 3 and the USA in London on October 7.

Springbok squad:

Forwards

Willem Alberts, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Lood de Jager, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Victor Matfield (vice-captain), Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Adriaan Strauss, Duane Vermeulen

Backs

Jean de Villiers (captain), Damian de Allende, Fourie du Preez, Bryan Habana, Zane Kirchner, Jesse Kriel, Pat Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lwazi Mvovo, Rudy Paige, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Handre Pollard, Morne Steyn

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