De Villiers spent the past year with the Irish outfit Munster but has decided to return to South Africa with the intention of securing a place in the Springbok squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

The announcement was made by WP’s Senior Professional Coach Rassie Erasmus and MD of WP Rugby (Pty) Ltd Rob Wagner at the High Performance Centre in Bellville.

The other big scoop for the union was the acquisition of prop CJ van der Linde who has just returned to South Africa after a two-year stint in Ireland with Leinster.

He will be playing for the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup competition until the end of the year, and then takes up a one-year contact with Province for the 2011 season.

The Fiji-born wing Sireli Naqelevuki has parted ways with Newlands after his contract came to an end. He has returned to Fiji and has been named in his country’s national team to play Japan over the weekend.

He produced some excellent performances during the Super 14 season and some European clubs have shown interest in him.

Flyhalf Peter Grant will not be around for the Currie Cup season as he has been given leave to play in Japan.

Despite several excellent performances for the Stormers this year, Grant has not found favour with Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and was overlooked for recent Springbok squads.

Grant will, however, return to Cape Town for the Super 15 season next year.

Source: sport24.co.za

Leinster-based Van der Linde made the last of his 56 Test appearances for South Africa against Australia in a Vodacom Tri-Nations fixture in August 2008.

His most recent appearance for Leinster was in the Irish champions’ 23-6 victory over Cardiff Blues on 31 October, before the break in the European season for the autumn internationals.

Van der Linde made his Test debut as a 22-year-old against Scotland in 2002 and was a member of the World Cup-winning squad of 2007.

“It’s fantastic that we’re able to call on a player with CJ’s experience to join the squad,” said Bok coach Peter de Villiers.

“With such a tight schedule it is also helpful to be able to bring in someone who has been part of the group before, knows the systems and will settle in quickly. CJ is also a specialist tighthead who will provide the type of cover we will need.

“It is unfortunate that we have lost three players so early in the tour but that is part of the game and we have to be able to manage such setbacks,” de Villiers said.

Hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle and prop Gurthrö Steenkamp were also forced home with injuries following the opening match against Leicester on Friday.

Van der Linde will travel to France on Wednesday where the rest of the squad, arriving from Johannesburg and London, will converge in Toulouse. The other two replacements Wian du Preez and Adriaan Strauss will join the squad in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Source: sarugby.com

Pic: irishtimes.com