Rugby: Mallet to coach World XV against SA

Nick Mallett.
Nick Mallett.
Former South Africa coach Nick Mallett will take charge of a World XV made up European-based club players in a game against the Springboks in their build-up to next year's World Cup.

New Zealand internationals Hosea Gear and Carl Hayman, Australians James O'Connor, Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell and Frenchmen Julien Bonnaire and Francois Trinh-Duc were named on a list of early acceptances for the match on June 7 in Cape Town.

Springbok World Cup winner BJ Botha and Toulon-based England back-rower Steffon Armitage are also among confirmed participants, the South African Rugby Football Union said on Monday.

Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer will have a full-strength squad available for the match against a team made up from the major European leagues as he prepares for the World Cup in England.

South Africa will play 14 games this year before a shortened, four-game 2015 Rugby Championship provides the final warm-up before the World Cup.

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