Benhard Janse van Rensburg: born and raised in South Africa, with a name of Dutch origin, and now about to play for England.
When the former England scrum-half Danny Care said on a recent BBC podcast that “it doesn’t sit right with me… playing international rugby has to be more exclusive than that”, I could see the logical point.
Why bother having a team named “England” if it includes a South African?
But it’s not that simple, and I think Care is wrong, and yet the debate is worth having.
Bristol Bears centre Janse van Rensburg has qualified for England via five years of residency that was completed on 8 July – coincidentally, and maybe conveniently, just a few days too late for England’s defeat to South Africa in Johannesburg last weekend.
