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Cape Town - It has emerged that a contractual dispute with the South African Rugby Union (SARU) is the reason behind Bulls lock Flip van der Merwe making himself unavailable for Springbok selection.
Bok coach Heyneke Meyer earlier this week said Van der Merwe was "unavailable for international rugby at the moment".
The reasons behind Van der Merwe's unavailability were described as "personal".
However, according to Netwerk24, Van der Merwe and SARU are at loggerheads because the players feels he was done an injustice when Springbok contacts were awarded.
Unlike lock partners Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield and Pieter-Steph du Toit, Van der Merwe apparently did not receive a similar national contract.
According to reports, Van der Merwe will only make himself available for Springbok selection once the dispute is settled.
Van der Merwe is the second Springbok player involved in a contractual dispute with SARU. Sharks utility backs Frans Steyn also made himself unavailable for the Boks after failing to reach an agreement with SARU last season.
