"Overseas Springboks" - Picking a XV of South Africans Qualified for Different Nations

With such a stacked roster of talent, Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes for the second round clash against Scotland, from the team that swept England to the side last Saturday in Johannesburg. The Springboks are truly spoiled for choice from a selection perspective, with their flooded depth charts often forcing international calibre players to pursue opportunities overseas.

In this article, we have pieced together a staring XV of South African-born players that are eligible for different nations, with this group of 15 stars calling time on their wait for a crack at the fabled green and gold. With the Springboks set to face Scotland this weekend in the Nations Championship, we will likely see a couple of the following players running out in their homeland very soon. Here's the best of the ex-patriot Springboks, ahead of the round two of the Nations Championship.

We kick things off with a man that has been the heatr-beat of the Harlequins back-field for the past six years, with South African fullback Tyrone Green eligible to represent England following his successful residency. Green was a part of the Londoners' triumphant Premiership title winning campaign back in 2021, with his rugby journey beginning in Klerksdop, Western Province before his breakthrough at the Lions. Whilst the former London Scottish man has not yet made his England debut, a solid start to the 2026/27 PREM season could certainly catch Steve Borthwick's attention ahead of the 2027 Guinness Men's Six Nations.

Next up is our first Scotsman that is expected to make his return to South Africa this weekend, as Gregor Townesend's men take on the Springboks in the second round of the Nations Championship. Steyn traces his roots back to Johannesburg, with the flying wing also a graduate of the esteemed Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape. Steyn made his club rugby breakthrough with the Griquas in the Currie Cup, before Glasgow Warriors came calling for his signature in 2019. Steyn qualified for Scotland as his Grandmother was Glaswegian, and he made his Scotland debut in the 2020 Six Nations clash against France.

Taking the spot at outside centre is quite the globe-trotter, in Japan centre Dylan Riley. Born in Durban, Riley soon left the land of the Springboks as he attended school in Brisbane, Australia. Riley's rugby journey began out in the land down under, with the Wallabies and Springboks both left thinking what could have been, with the midfielder accruing Australia U20s caps before he set his sights on the Brave Blossoms. After a season long stint with Brisbane City, Riley moved to the land of the rising sun in 2018, where he has been a mainstay of the Saitama Wild Knights ever since.

Partnering Riley in the midfield is a man that continues to divide opinion within the England rugby online space, yet Benhard Janse van Rensburg is still waiting to make his England Test debut this Summer. The South African centre was born in Pretoria, and progressed through the youth systems of the Bulls, before his debut with the Leopards in 2016. The midfielder floated across quite a few sides upon his time in South Africa, with caps for the Sharks, Southern Kings and Free State Cheetahs all before he headed out to Japan in 2021.

However, it was his 2021 transfer to London Irish that set off the sand-timer for van Rensburg's England eligibility, with the centre racking up five years straight England residency, having since signed for Bristol Bears after the Exiles collapsed. Van Rensburg was not picked for last weekend's clash against South Africa, yet Steve Borthwick could hand the centre his debut this weekend against Fiji, as England take on the Pacific Islanders back on home soil.

Another well-known export from the land of green and gold, plenty has been made over the years of Duhan van der Merwe in the Scotland jersey, yet there is no denying that the Edinburgh man has been a force of nature for Gregor Townsend's side. Born on the Western Cape, the wing made a handful of Blue Bulls appearances and achieved South Africa U20s honours before his 2016 move to Montpellier saw him bid farewell to his homeland.

Stints with Edinburgh and Worcester followed, with the British & Irish Lion returning to the Scottish capital in 2022, following the collapse of the Warriors. Van der Merwe completed his Scottish residency in 2020, with his debut made against Georgia in that year's Autumn Nations Series. In November 2025, van der Merwe scored his 35th Scotland try to become the all-time top scorer.

Now, we go from a handful of rather well-known South African export players to the first of our rather lesser-known talents that trace their roots back to land of the Springboks. Taking the spot at fly half is Germany international Bader-Werner Pretorius, with the 29-year-old born in Johannesburg and made his rugby break-through across stints at Western Province, the Sharks and Golden Lions. Pretorius left South Africa in 2020, where he moved to Jersey Reds, and played for Chinnor before ending up in Portugal with Sao Miguel RC. Pretorius has German parents, and he made his senior Test debut in the 2025 Rugby Europe Championship.

At scrum-half we head stateside, where Ruben de Haas has become one of the USA Eagles' most influential players. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, de Haas moved to Arkansas as a child, where he balanced rugby with American football before progressing through the USA age-grade system.

The son and grandson of former South African professionals, rugby has always been in his blood, but his international future ultimately lay with the Eagles. After beginning his professional career with the Cheetahs setup, de Haas has since played for Saracens before moving to Major League Rugby. Now approaching 50 Test caps, the Chicago Hounds scrum-half has become one of the Eagles' most dependable performers and a player many South African supporters still wonder about.

Leading our expatriate front row is one of Scotland's most recognisable figures. Pierre Schoeman was born in Nelspruit (now Mbombela), South Africa, before progressing through the Bulls academy and representing the Junior Springboks at Under-20 level. With opportunities limited behind South Africa's wealth of established loosehead props, Schoeman seized the chance to join Edinburgh in 2018, in a move that transformed his career.

Since qualifying for Scotland on residency, he has become a cornerstone of Gregor Townsend's side, earned selection for the 2025 British & Irish Lions and established himself among the world's leading loosehead props. With his trademark mullet, thunderous ball-carrying and the iconic 'schoooooooe' chant, few players have embraced Scottish rugby quite like "The Greatest Schoeman."

Hooker is occupied by another South African success story abroad in Dewald Kotze. Born in Limpopo before moving to Edmonton, Alberta as a teenager, Kotze developed through Canada's rugby pathway after joining Strathcona Druids and Rugby Canada's Pacific Pride programme.

His steady rise earned him a move to the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby before making his Canada debut in 2024. A powerful ball-carrying hooker who thrives in the contact areas, Kotze has quickly established himself as an important member of the Canadian pack and is another example of South Africa's remarkable ability to produce players who go on to strengthen international teams around the world.

Completing the front row is Zimbabwe international Tijde Visser, another player whose rugby education came through South Africa's renowned development system. The prop built his reputation in domestic South African rugby before choosing to represent Zimbabwe on the international stage. As the Sables have enjoyed a resurgence under a new generation of players, Visser has become an important member of a pack that helped secure qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. While breaking into South Africa's tighthead ranks would always have been a daunting task, he has carved out an impressive international career in Zimbabwe colours across the continent.

The second row begins with Japan's Tyler Paul, who was born in South Africa before forging a successful career in the Japanese club game. The towering lock qualified for the Brave Blossoms through residency and has since become a dependable figure in Eddie Jones' forward pack, since making his debut against Australia last Autumn. Renowned for his line-out expertise and tireless work rate, Paul has quietly established himself as one of Japan's most reliable forwards, helping the Brave Blossoms remain competitive on the international stage despite fierce competition for places.

Partnering Paul is Namibia's Tiaan de Klerk, who route to Test rugby was blocked by South Africa's incredible depth in the engine room. The Pretoria Bulls lock has become a regular for the Welwitschias, bringing physicality and line-out presence to a Namibian side that continues to compete against Africa's strongest nations. For countries such as Namibia, players with South African development remain invaluable, and de Klerk is expected to become an integral figure in their forward pack in the years to come.

The blindside flanker jersey goes to Marno Redelinghuys, another South African-born forward now flying the star-spangled banner for the USA Eagles. Like Tyrone Green, Redelinghuys was born in Klerksdorp, and was educated at Hoërskool Schoonspruit. After developing through South African university rugby and the provincial system with the Leopards, Western Province and the Stormers, Redelinghuys moved to the United States with a move to Major League Rugby.

Upon signing for the Huston Sabercats in 2022, his physical ball carrying and breakdown work earned him international recognition. A powerful carrier and committed defender, he has become a valuable member of the Eagles' pack, adding steel to this expatriate South African XV.

Dylan Richardson may have been born in Durban, but the versatile forward has become a familiar face in dark blue. Equally comfortable at hooker or flanker in a unique multi-tool skill-set, Richardson qualified for Scotland through his Edinburgh-born father and made his Test debut against Japan in the Autumn of 2021 after impressing for the Sharks. His versatility has made him a valuable option for Gregor Townsend upon his move to Edinburgh, with the former South Africa Schools representative proving that adaptability can be every bit as valuable as raw talent at international level.

Completing the side is one of the brightest young back-row talents in Europe. Ross Vintcent was born in Johannesburg before moving to England as a child, eventually qualifying for Italy through his Italian father. After breaking through with Zebre Parma, Vintcent joined Exeter Chiefs, where he has continued his development in the Gallagher PREM, and was a key player in the Devon side's latest run to the 2025/26 Final.

He has quickly become one of Gonzalo Quesada's most exciting forwards with the Azzurri, and has already accrued 20 caps in light blue. Dynamic in open space, explosive with ball in hand and capable of covering the entire back row, the 23-year-old represents the modern prototype of an international number eight. While South Africa's options at the base of the scrum remain frighteningly deep, Vintcent has quickly shown why Italy were so eager to secure his international future.