Long Walk Since Freedom

The South African Rugby Union has ruled that all the contracted Springboks be withdrawn from their Absa Currie Cup squads for a month to take part in a conditioning programme following the Tri-Nations.

All non-contracted Springboks are available immediately for their provinces. The provinces have agreed to the move.

The Blue Bulls will be missing seven of its Springboks including Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and Morn� Steyn.

The Sharks will be without Captain John Smit and four others. Schalk Burger, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, Ricky Januarie and Andries Bekker will be absent from the Western Province side, while the Free State Cheetahs will miss Juan Smith, Henrich Brussow and CJ van der Linde.

All players have been given a programme by the Springboks conditioning and medical team.

They will report to Cape Town on October 4.

Edited by Deshnee Subramany