Erasmus hopes Aphiwe can play for Boks again one day

NEWS: South Africa’s Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus, hopes Aphiwe Dyantyi can one day be picked for the Springboks again.

Erasmus was asked about his thoughts on Dyantyi making a comeback at the Sharks after completing a four-year ban for the use of banned substances.

The Lions star was found guilty in 2019.

Erasmus said his personal opinion is that he believes in second chances.

“If you look at the penalty he paid, four years, it’s just not worth doing something like that. And again, I am not judging him as a person, I am saying, four years is a long time and it would be so non-sensible for a player to try in this day and age where you just can’t get away with something like that.

“We get tested every day in camp, there are four or five players that get tested for the last two years at every camp every day. There is not a day that goes by that players don’t get tested.” he explained.

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Erasmus said he didn’t think players needed ‘something like that’ to make it at the highest level, referring to relatively small players like Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse who has made it at the highest level without using substances to help them.

“I believe in second chances, I believe when there’s a ban, and this is my personal view, and that’s what the disciplinary decided, he served his ban for four years. It must’ve been really tough, I really hope he comes back with a bang.

“I hope we can pick him for the Springboks again one day. There are a lot of people who don’t feel the same way about that, but I feel that’s why there was a time period to the ban.

“Because after that you can consider the guy again. As I said, I believe in second chances and hopefully he does well and we can look at him again.”

Erasmus used the opportunity to warn young players out there to be very careful and think twice.

“I don’t judge Aphiwe. This is just a warning for people to think carefully. He paid the price and I hope he shines at the Sharks.”