Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that Jeremy Ward was never considered for Springbok selection during his tenure, offering his blessing to the former Junior Boks captain as he edges closer to a France debut.
Ward, 30, has been training with Fabien Galthié's squad this month after a standout run of form at Stade Français, where he has been based since 2022. He qualifies for France on residency grounds in 2027, and has publicly indicated his willingness to commit to Les Bleus.
"To be honest with you, we never really looked at him and considered him for a Springbok squad in my era," Erasmus said ahead of South Africa's Nations Championship meeting with France. "He has not been on a depth chart, not because he is bad; we just know the players who are playing in South Africa, and we track all the other players around the world, but if he's in the mix for France, fantastic."
Erasmus drew a direct parallel with other South Africans who found Test rugby elsewhere after not breaking through at home. "We are proud of those players like Duhan van der Merwe, Pierre Schoeman, and Kyle Steyn who didn't make it in our system and got the opportunity elsewhere."
He also pushed back on any suggestion that South African rugby should take issue with the trend, pointing to the accepted norm of coaches crossing borders. "Eddie Jones coaches Japan; he's Australian. Dave Rennie coaches New Zealand now, but Australia before; Gatland coached Wales, so why would we be upset when players make a move, but when the coaches make a move, it's not a problem? Jeremy is a Gqeberha boy, my hometown; if he makes it with them, lekker, we are happy for him."
Ward would follow Benhard Janse van Rensburg in becoming a South African centre to switch Test allegiances in recent years, though the circumstances differ markedly. Erasmus revealed earlier this year that the Springbok coaching staff had actively wanted to cap Janse van Rensburg ahead of the June 2024 window but were blocked by SA Rugby CEO Nico Luus, who had already committed to England and World Rugby that South Africa would not pursue him.
"We wanted to give him a chance, because we were thin at centre and we had the Barbarians game and South Africa A game," Erasmus said. "Then, when I phoned the CEO, he said 'No, you can't, you promised me.' We were looking at him, and we wanted to cap him, but because of a promise I made to the CEO and one he made to World Rugby, we didn't pursue it." Janse van Rensburg went on to make his England debut in July.