Deon Fourie rewarded with Springbok call-up after stellar performance against All Blacks

Veteran utility forward Deon Fourie was on Monday called up by the Springboks ahead of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks.

Fourie, who will turn 40 on 25 September, was a standout performer for the Stormers in their 38-21 loss to New Zealand in Cape Town last Friday.

Fourie faced the All Blacks for only the second time in his career - the first being the 2023 Rugby World Cup final in Paris, where he played almost the entire game as a substitute hooker.

Playing as a flanker on Friday night, Fourie was at the forefront of the Stormers’ efforts with impressive carries and relentless tackling. He also scored the Stormers’ first try.

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SA Rugby said in a statement that Fourie will join up with the Springbok squad in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning.

“The Rugby World Cup-winner will add invaluable experience to Rassie Erasmus’ quality list of forwards for the historic series,” the SA Rugby statement read.

The Springboks, who beat Argentina 17-10 in Buenos Aires at the weekend, travelled back to South Africa in two groups on Sunday and Monday, with the last group scheduled to arrive in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The first Test between South Africa and New Zealand is at Ellis Park on Saturday, 22 August.

The second Test is at Cape Town Stadium on 29 August, the third at FNB Stadium on 5 September, before the final Test in Baltimore, USA on 12 September.

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Deon Fourie has been called up to join the #Springboks squad in Johannesburg tomorrow - more here: https://t.co/TsdpeMlpJl