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Cape Town - In an attempt to keep promising junior rugby players in the country, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) has registered the Junior Springboks as the country’s second-best team.
According to Rapport, The SA Under-20 side is now registered at World Rugby’s headquarters as South Africa's No 2 team behind the Springboks.
This means that no player who has represented the Baby Boks since 2012 will be eligible to play for another country.
According to World Rugby regulations, players who have represented a country’s second-best team at international level, are not allowed to represent another nation in future.
This means that CJ Stander, a former Baby Bok star who currently plays for Ireland, was the last Junior Springbok to represent his adopted nation.
Payers like lock Paul Willemse, flank Wiaan Liebenberg (both Montpellier) and prop Steven Kitshoff (Bordeaux) will not be allowed to be picked for France in future.
The trio starred for the Baby Boks when they won the Junior World Championship in 2012.
Players representing the SA ‘A’ team will, however, be allowed to play for another nation if they did not represent the Baby Boks.
