Steve Borthwick on high alert! Four South African Premiership stars are about to qualify for England
Today at 08:19 AM
England head coach Steve Borthwick is reportedly keeping a close watch on four South African stars who are soon set to qualify for the England squad through residency.
South African centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg joined the Bristol Bears from London Irish following their collapse in June 2023.
The former London Irish midfielder, who can operate at inside and outside centre and also cover fly-half, made more than 50 appearances for the Exiles over two seasons, scoring 11 Premiership tries.
During the 2022/23 season, the former Free State Cheetah made six tries assists and beat 33 defenders.
Hanro Liebenberg
South African back-rower Hanro Liebenberg arrived at Leicester Tigers last summer of 2019 from the Bulls in Super Rugby.
After playing his youth-team rugby at Boland, Hanro moved to Pretoria to play in the Currie Cup with the Blues Bulls and earned his first selection for the Bulls in 2015.
He also followed in his brother Wiaan's footsteps by captaining South Africa Under-20s at the World Junior Championships where they were beaten in the semi-finals by England before picking up the bronze medals with play-off victory over France.
After starting his first season with Tigers strongly, he missed the middle section of the campaign after surgery on an ankle injury, but returned after the Covid lockdown to make 15 appearances in his debut season, playing at flanker and No8.