Summary Roux said the players would rejoin the Springboks in Australia next Monday.
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - South Africa has released flyhalf Morne Steyn, record try-scorer Bryan Habana and three other players from its Rugby Championship squad to temporarily join their French clubs.
South African Rugby Union chief executive Jurie Roux said on Monday the decision to allow Steyn, Habana, scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, lock Juandre Kruger and prop Gurthro Steenkamp to travel to France in the middle of the southern hemisphere tournament was "a once-off concession" to the clubs.
Roux said the players would rejoin the Springboks in Australia next Monday ahead of South Africa s Rugby Championship meeting with Australia in Brisbane on Sept. 7.
Steyn, Habana, Vermaak and Kruger could debut for their new teams in week three of France s Top 14 on Friday and Saturday before returning to national duty.
