Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies has been handed what is effectively a career-ending ban after testing positive for a banned substance.
Photo: BackpagePix
No room for Elton Jantjies: Is this the end of his Springbok career?
Will the polarising figure that is Elton Jantjies ever play for the Springboks again? He was left out of an EXTENDED squad named by Jacques Nienaber this past weekend.
Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies has been handed what is effectively a career-ending ban after testing positive for a banned substance.
Photo: BackpagePix
Elton Jantjies was one of the glaring omissions from the 40-man Springbok training squad named on Saturday for next month’s Rugby Championship.
Has Elton Jantjies reached the end of his Springbok career?
The 32-year-old, who plays for Agen in the ProD2 — the French second division league — was not invited to the Springboks three alignment camps earlier this year. It was initially thought that his absence was due to his club commitments with Agen in France.
But with the ProD2 season over and Jantjies’ continued absence, it would appear that he has simply been overlooked for Springbok selection.
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NO ROOM FOR ELTON JANTJIES
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named a Rugby Championship training squad of 40 players – which features a handful of overseas based players – for their next assignment, a three-week training camp in Pretoria from Sunday until Thursday, 29 June.
And the players listed as flyhalves are Handre Pollard, Damian Willemse and Manie Libbok, which could be a clear indication that Libbok has surpassed Jantjies in the Springboks’ pecking order.
Jantjies’ return to the Springboks set-up was always in doubt following his highly publicised alleged affair with the national team’s dietician Zeenat Simjee, who has since returned to her job with the squad.
SPRINGBOKS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP TRAINING SQUAD:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Stade Francais), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92).
Hookers: Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks).
Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks), Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers), RG Snyman (Munster).
Loose Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Ulster), Jasper Wiese (Leicester).
Utility Forwards: Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat).
Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls).
