Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has called up veteran utility forward Deon Fourie to the national squad for the forthcoming Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, presented by Castle Double Malt, following his return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury.
The 39-year-old Fourie, who doubles up as a loose forward and hooker, will join up with the squad in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning.
His last Test for the Springboks was the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final against New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris, and he made a welcome return to top-class rugby in the DHL Stormers’ clash in their RGR opener against the All Blacks on Friday night.
The Rugby World Cup-winner will add invaluable experience to Erasmus’ quality list of forwards for the historic series, which kicks off at 10bet Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, 22 August.
The match will mark the first of four Tests between the teams in the inaugural series, which will also see the teams meet at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town (29 August), the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg (5 September), and the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore (12 September).
The Springboks travelled back to South Africa in two groups from Argentina on Sunday and Monday, with the last group scheduled to arrive in Johannesburg on Tuesday.