England have named Benhard Janse van Rensburg in a 42-man training squad for this summer’s inaugural Nations Championship, even though the Bristol Bears midfielder is not officially eligible for another three weeks. The 29-year-old could still be involved in the buildup to July’s Tests, but he will not be available when England face South Africa on 4 July.
Janse van Rensburg was picked ahead of the Bath pair Ollie Lawrence and Max Ojomoh, a sign that England are prepared to look beyond the obvious names as they try to reset after a flat Six Nations. Steve Borthwick’s side finished fifth and lost four of their five games, leaving little margin for caution as they turn to a stretched summer programme.
The selection hinges on residency. Janse van Rensburg will become eligible on 8 July after five years in the UK following his move to London Irish, but the Rugby Football Union still made a special appeal to World Rugby to clear him for consideration after his brief South Africa Under-20 appearance in 2016. He played 21 minutes as a late replacement that day, and the RFU argued that such a short spell should not tie him to South Africa in perpetuity.
That argument has already had practical consequences for England’s planning. Janse van Rensburg may yet feature in a non-cap match against a France XV in Vannes on 19 June if he impresses in training, and he could make a full debut the following weekend against Fiji at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium once he is formally available. His presence gives Borthwick another option in midfield at a time when the head coach is considering resting senior players, including captain Maro Itoje, for some or all of England’s July fixtures.
He is not the only new face in the squad. Archie McParland, Charlie Bracken, Adam Radwan, Noah Caluori, Vilikesa Sela and Kepu Tuipulotu were also called up as England widened the group for the summer. The training squad is likely to be trimmed again as the July Tests draw closer, but Janse van Rensburg’s inclusion already says something about how aggressively England are testing the edges of selection.
The tension is obvious: England have brought him in before the paperwork has fully caught up, and before the South Africa Test that would have been the most politically charged debut of all. For Janse van Rensburg, the next step is simple enough. Train well, wait for 8 July, and see whether a long route to England ends with a first cap against Fiji.
