Cape Town - There is a rich South African flavour in the German rugby squad set to tour South America for two Tests against Brazil.
Germany, currently ranked at No 30 on World Rugby’s official rankings, will play two Tests against the 39th-ranked Brazil.
The first Test takes place in Blumenau on November 28, with the second Test scheduled for Sao Paulo on December 4.
The German team is coached by a South African, Kobus Potgieter, who included six South Africans in his squad for the trip.
They are flank Jaco Otto, centre Paul Bosch, flank Jarrid Els, lock Michael Poppmeier, flyhalf Raynor Parkinson and wing Hendrik van der Merwe.
Of these players, Bosch is the most well-known to SA rugby fans, having previously represented Western Province.
Otto previously represented NMMU in the Varsity Cup, Els played for Border, Poppmeier for the False Bay club in Cape Town, Parkinson for the University of Johannesburg and the seven-Test capped Van der Merwe hails from Bloemfontein.
The 27-man Germany squad - via Germany Rugby’s official website:
Heidelberger RK: Jaco Otto, Els Jarrid, Sean Armstrong, Hendrik van der Merwe, Raynor Parkinson, Arthur Zeiler, Kehoma Brenner, Samy Füchsel, Michael Poppmeier, Paul Bosch
SC Neuenheim: Sam Harris, Thomas van Gelderen
TSV Handschuhsheim: Marcus Bender
TV Pforzheim: Rob May, Jeremy Te Huia, Oliver Paine, Jörn Schröder, Carlos Soteras-Merz
SC 1880 Frankfurt: Mark Sztyndera
RC Aachen: Eric Marks
FC St. Pauli: Tom Behrendt
Hannover 78: Pascal Fischer
Luctonians RFC (England): Dale Garner
US Colombiers (France): Chris Hilsenbeck
Richmond RC (England): Rupert Cowan
SC Germania List: Daniel Koch
RC Rottweil: Robert Lehmann