Fourie, Steyn back in the green and gold

World Cup winners Frans Steyn and Jaque Fourie have been recalled to an extended Springbok squad for their first five matches of the year, the South African Rugby Union said on Saturday.

Utility back Steyn and outside centre Fourie, who won the William Webb Ellis trophy in 2007, quit the national side last year, but have made an about-turn and are back in the World Cup plans of coach Heyneke Meyer.

They are part of a squad of 49 players named for the fixtures against a World XV on July 11, the Rugby Championship and the one-off test against Argentina in Buenos Aires in August.

Among that number are 13 players, Steyn and Fourie included, who are currently injured or in rehabilitation, but will link up with the squad when fit.

“Even though Jaque Fourie announced that he had retired from test rugby late last year, we have had positive talks with him and his club, Kobe in Japan, and an agreement was reached that he will be available for one last season of test rugby,” Meyer said in a statement.

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