No eligibility issue if Boks want to pick Strauss

Cape Town - There will be no eligibility issue hampering a return to the Springbok fold for Adriaan Strauss.

The Bulls hooker retired from international rugby at the end of the 2016 season but there have been rumours that he may return under the guidance of new coach Rassie Erasmus.

The possibility of Strauss getting a recall became more likely over the weekend when first-choice hooker Malcolm Marx picked up a groin injury playing for the Lions against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

Marx is set to fly back to South Africa and will undergo scans in Johannesburg on Tuesday to determine the severity of his injury.

Should Marx require surgery, he could miss up to eight weeks of rugby, which would see him miss next month's Tests against Wales and England.

This could prompt the Bok coach to call on the services of Strauss, who has performed well for the Bulls in Super Rugby this year.

Afrikaans website Netwerk24 reported on Sunday that fears emerged over Strauss' eligibility and whether he had to wait 12 months before his name would appear on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list.

Strauss’ case is however different to that of former Bok lock Victor Matfield who came out of retirement a few years ago.

Because Strauss kept playing Super Rugby for the Bulls there is no waiting period for him to return to international rugby.

Other local options at Erasmus’ disposal at hooker are Bongi Mbonambi, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Akker van der Merwe.

Mbonambi, however, has also been sidelined following a burst appendix and his availability is in doubt.

There is also the possibility that Erasmus could call on Bismarck du Plessis, who plays for French club Montpellier.