Axed by Springboks, De Klerk lands Barbarians call to face Wales at Twickenham

Faf de Klerk will make an immediate return to international rugby with the Barbarians after being omitted from the Springboks’ Nations Championship squad, with the 34-year-old scrum-half named in Scott Robertson’s matchday group to face Wales at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

De Klerk had featured from the bench in South Africa’s 80-31 win over the Barbarians at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last Saturday, but Rassie Erasmus left him out of the 46-man squad announced shortly afterwards. Robertson moved quickly to snap up the double World Cup winner for the London double-header, in which the Barbarians’ men’s and women’s sides will face their Welsh counterparts.

The South African is not the only high-profile addition to the Barbarians squad. Fellow Springbok Vincent Koch has also been included, while Australia lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto comes in after missing out on the Wallabies squad.

The match will carry particular significance for George North, who was called up over the weekend and will face the side he represented 121 times in what is set to be the final appearance of his professional career.

Barbarians squad

Forwards: Paul Alo-Emile, Lachlan Boshier, Elliot Dee, Nathan Hughes, Jack Iscaro, Jordan Joseph, Gia Kharaishvili, Vincent Koch, Liam McConnell, Izack Rodda, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Romain Taofifénua, Yoan Tanga, Harry Thacker

Backs: Santiago Arata, Faf de Klerk, Andrew Kellaway, Alex Nankivell, George North, Harry Plummer, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, Tom Spring, Virimi Vakatawa, Jeremy Ward