Bath remove Springbok centre from Test side

Bath back Butch James has been formally withdrawn from South Africa’s line-up for their clash against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

James had been due to feature at inside centre, but English clubs are not obliged to release players for a match that falls outside the recognised International Rugby Board June playing window.

Premier Rugby, the umbrella organisation for England’s Premiership clubs, has a blanket policy of not releasing players for Tests not governed by the IRB’s regulation on player release.

Bath followed Premier Rugby’s directive by informing James he must return to his club.

And the Springboks management are now set to confirm a revised Test line-up later today.

Two players – full-back Zane Kirchner and lock Victor Matfield – will join the Springboks squad tomorrow as respective replacements for James and Andries Bekker.

Bekker has a foot injury and is out of the Wales encounter, meaning a likely place in the match-day 22 for world star Matfield, who helped the Bulls retain their Super 14 crown with victory over the Stormers last Saturday.

James, meanwhile, has not played Test rugby since 2008, and he now misses a glorious chance to stake an early claim for World Cup recognition next year.