Boks set to be ordered back to England

NEWS: Sale Sharks, who stand second in the Premiership, are planning to recall their Springboks players who have returned to South Africa by the middle of next month to prepare for a continuation of the season.

Official confirmation of Premiership Rugby’s plans to try and finish the season, which has only completed rounds 13 rounds, are due to be revealed on Wednesday and England’s leading clubs will have to start mapping out their training plans – if the current lockdown restrictions are relaxed.

With rugby suspended, it is understood that Sale Sharks’ Springboks – headed by Faf de Klerk and the three Du Preez brothers Rob, Dan and Jean Luc – travelled home to South Africa along with World Cup-winning lock Lood de Jager who has just revealed on social media that his wife is pregnant.

The players are likely to leave for England in the middle of next month to ensure they can take part in what will be effectively a second pre-season build-up with number of airlines are still flying to South Africa, although domestic flights are not due to start again until April 16.

Hard running centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg remained in England during the lockdown.

By Chris Jones, @RugbyPass

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