SA prop leaves Sunwolves for 'family reasons'

Cape Town - The Sunwolves have announced that South African-born prop Ruan Smith will leave them due to “family reasons”.

Smith, a former Brumbies and Western Province front-ranker, was one of five South African-born players included in the Sunwolves Super Rugby squad named in December.

The others are lock Grant Hattingh, wing Gerhard van den Heever and loose forwards Willie Britz and Wimpie van der Walt, who recently made his international debut for Japan.

The Sunwolves open their 2018 Super Rugby campaign against the Brumbies in Tokyo on Saturday (February 24 - 06:15 SA time).

Sunwolves 2018 Super Rugby squad:

Keita Inagaki, Asaeli Aivalu, Jiwon Koo, Craig Millar, Jaba Bradvadze, Shota Horie, Grant Hattingh, Sam Wykes, Kazuki Imeno, Uwe Helu, Edward Quirk, Shunsuke Nunomaki, Wimpie van der Walt, Willie Britz, Michael Leitch, Fumiaki Tanaka, Yu Tamura, Hayden Parker, Harumichi Tatekawa, Timoth Lafaele, Gerhard van den Heever, Kenki Fukuoka, Akihit Yamada, Lamano Lava Lemeki, Robbie Robinson

Sad news from the @sunwolves camp with the club announcing that Ruan Smith is leaving the squad for "family reasons."#SuperRugby @rugbyJPN_ #?????? pic.twitter.com/naPwewcK0N

— Rich Freeman (@FreemanrugbyJPN) February 20, 2018