WORCESTER Warriors’ scrum-half Francois Hougaard looks set to miss their first three Aviva Premiership matches after being recalled to South Africa’s Test squad.
The versatile Hougaard was part of the Springboks Test squad against Argentina but unable to play due to a knee problem picked up while on Olympic duty with the Sevens team in Rio.
However, the fit-again 28-year-old has been named in the Springboks squad for their Championship Tests against the Australia and New Zealand.
The Boks squad will get together in Johannesburg on Thursday for their two-week trip, with Warriors travelling to Twickenham to face reigning champions Saracens on Saturday (2pm).
Hougaard is also set to be unavailable for Warriors’ Premiership matches against Gloucester and Bath.
The experienced Jonny Arr and Luke Baldwin will be battling it out for the number nine jersey at Sixways.
The Boks face the Wallabies in Brisbane on September 10 followed by the All Blacks a week later in Christchurch.
Hougaard and Lwazi Mvovo are the only two new faces in the Springboks squad despite a 26-24 defeat to Argentina in Salta at the weekend.
Hougaard could get a look-in on the wing.
Springboks squad: Lourens Adriaanse, Damian de Allende, Lood de Jager, Juan de Jongh, Faf de Klerk, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Jaco Kriel, Jesse Kriel, Francois Louw, Lionel Mapoe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Oupa Mohoje, Franco Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, Lwazi Mvovo, Trevor Nyakane, Rudy Paige, Morné Steyn, Adriaan Strauss, Warren Whiteley.
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