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Jean leads Boks at Rugby World Cup

Durban - Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer on Friday named his 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup in England and Wales.

Jean de Villiers has been declared fit enough to travel to the UK and has been named captain of the squad.

The squad features three Test centurions in De Villiers, Victor Matfield and Bryan Habana.

Matfield has been named vice-captain, with Schalk Burger providing captaincy back-up.

Matfield and Burger will take part in their fourth Rugby World Cup, while De Villiers, Habana, JP Pietersen, Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez, Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis will play in their third.

Six players who featured in 2011, are back for their second tournament.

Sixteen members of the 31-man squad, 12 of whom made their Test debuts under Meyer since 2012, will have their first taste of Rugby World Cup action.

One uncapped player was included in Rudy Paige, who was first selected to tour with the Springboks last November.

The average age of the selected players is a little over 26 and the combined number of caps in the squad is 1 297.

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

They also face Scotland, Samoa and the USA in Pool B.

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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