Rugby World Cup: South Africa face legal challenge

South Africa have assured Rugby World Cup organisers they will be taking part in the tournament despite a legal challenge aimed at stopping the Springboks leaving home.

Tomorrow, the Agency for New Agenda will launch a court bid to prevent the South African team from playing in the World Cup, claiming their selection process is biased against black players.

The agency has also written to World Rugby requesting that South Africa be suspended from the organisation as it “still is a white man’s sport”. However, Standard Sport understands the South African Rugby Union have assured World Rugby, the game’s governing body, and hosts England that they will be taking part. The South African sports minister Fikile Mbalula has called on everyone in the country to back the team.

The Springboks are expected to select high-profile black regulars such as prop Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira and wing Bryan Habana for the tournament.

South African political party, the Freedom Front Plus, back their union’s stance and have called for players to be selected only on merit and not skin colour.