Double World Cup winner Faf de Klerk will join the Springboks in New Zealand for the second leg of their Rugby Championship campaign against the All Blacks, SA Rugby announced on Sunday.
The 33-year-old is the fourth scrumhalf in the touring squad after Grant Williams, Cobus Reinach and Morne van den Berg.
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De Klerk, who was a vital cog in the sides that won the last two World Cups, has suffered a spate of injuries since playing the full 80 minutes against New Zealand in the 2023 final in Paris.
His only two international appearances this season came off the bench against Italy and Georgia.
De Klerk's inclusion increases the size of the squad to 36 players, after hooker Bongi Mbonambi remained behind in South Africa earlier this week to attend to family matters.
The move came following 2007 Rugby World Cup winner Fourie du Preez believing that the scrumhalf reuniting with Handre Pollard would be an ideal combination in New Zealand.
“I personally would’ve loved for Faf to be in the mix,” Du Preez told News24.
“He’s started two World Cup finals and won them, along with Handre at fly-half, they’ve formed a great combination.”
The Springboks, who lost one and won one of their opening two matches at home to Australia, face the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
It will be the first of a two match series, with both sides travelling to Wellington for the second Test a week later.
