Two World Cup-winning Boks straight back into Premiership action

NEWS: Two of South Africa’s World Cup-winning Springboks will return to domestic action less than a week after completing a victory tour of their home country.

Leicester Tigers named their team for Saturday’s Premiership outing against Harlequins – with No.8 Jasper Wiese flyhalf and Handré Pollard starting.

They are the first of the World Cup-winning Boks to play for their domestic teams.

All the South African-based players are on a compulsory three-week rest-and-recuperation break.

However, those based abroad are not afforded the same luxury.

England players Freddie Steward, Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and Ollie Chessum have joined Wiese and Pollard in the Tigers starting XV, with Tongan international Solomone Kata also earning a place in Tigers’ XV after an excellent cameo on-debut last week.

“It’s been exciting for us as a group having the whole squad back together this week, as I’m sure it is for our supporters as well,” Tigers coach Dan McKellar said.

“Those international boys coming back have worked hard this week to get up to speed but there’s no doubt their experience and quality in training and meetings has given the squad a lift.

“Every game in this league is extremely competitive but we’ve got three out of the next four at home now to look forward to.”