SA teams can have 5 foreign players

SA Rugby (Saru) has reportedly amended its regulations to allow provinces to register up to five foreign players, a significant increase from the previous limit of two.

The amended Rule 27, according to Rapport, was unanimously approved by Saru’s executive council, stipulating that while provinces can register five foreign players, only three may be included in any matchday squad. 

Foreign players are classified as individuals without South African citizenship.

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The Cheetahs, for example, are immediate beneficiaries of the rule change, enabling them to field utility back Tiaan Swanepoel with fellow Namibia internationals, hooker Louis van der Westhuizen and prop Aranos Coetzee.

Several local teams have already integrated overseas talent, including Stormers winger Ben Loader (England) and Zimbabweans Tapiwa Mafura (Lions) and Tino Mavesere (Sharks).

Recently, the Sharks’ DRC-born Tshituka brothers, Manu and Vincent, received their SA ID cards following citizenship approval last year, making them eligible for Springbok selection.

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