Five members of the Springbok squad that returned from New Zealand on Monday have been released to their provinces to play in the Absa Currie Cup this weekend.
The released players were all part of the 28-man squad that played Australia and New Zealand on consecutive weekends in The Castle Rugby Championship, but were not part of the match 22 that faced the All Blacks in Dunedin on Saturday.
They are Craig Burden (The Sharks), Frans Malherbe (DHL Western Province), Jacques Potgieter (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Jano Vermaak (Vodacom Blue Bulls) and Lwazi Mvovo (The Sharks).
The sixth player that was not part of the match 22 in Dunedin, Pat Cilliers (MTN Golden Lions), is currently injured and not available for selection this weekend.
A Springbok squad of 30 players for the final two Tests in The Castle Rugby Championship – on September 29 against Australia at Loftus Versfeld and on October 6 against New Zealand at Soccer City – will be announced at the conclusion of round seven of the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division on Saturday evening.
The squad will convene in Johannesburg on Sunday evening to start preparations for the Tests against Australia and New Zealand.