The Springbok who can't get a visa to come into South Africa

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors arrived in South Africa for a two-match tour without their coach.

The Scottish outfit, who face the Sharks in a United Rugby Championship Round Five outing in Durban on Saturday and the Lions in Johannesburg a week later, are without their South African coach.

“Franco Smith has been unable to fly to South Africa for this weekend’s game due to visa delays,” the Warriors said in a statement on Friday.

“He will join up with the squad at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Attack Coach Nigel Carolan will take responsibility on the ground in South Africa for Saturday’s game.

The Warriors arrived in the Republic on Tuesday, but the news of Smith’s absence only started filtering through on Friday.

Smith worked in South Africa as recently as 2019, before leaving to take charge of Italy – following a four-year spell coaching the Cheetahs.

Smith, who earlier this year gave up his position of Director of Rugby in Italy to take up the Warriors job, played nine Tests for the Springboks between his debut against Scotland in 1997 and his last outing against New Zealand in 1999.

📰 | Franco Smith has been unable to fly to South Africa for this weekend’s game due to visa delays.

He will join up with the squad at the earliest possible opportunity.

Attack Coach Nigel Carolan will take responsibility on the ground in South Africa for tomorrow’s game. pic.twitter.com/zGToiYPicj

— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) October 14, 2022