France pick Liebenberg

SOUTH AFRICAN-born centre Brian Liebenberg expressed his astonishment last night at being called up to rugby’s French World Cup squad.

The 23-year-old Stade Francais star qualified for French residency in June and was immediately elevated into the national set-up at the expense of Thomas Castaignede.

“It is unbelievable,” Liebenberg told AFP from his holiday home in South Africa. “I feel nothing but happiness, though I am still finding it hard to believe.”