A legal wrangle that threatened the rights of Zimbabwean passport holders to play on South Africa's rugby national team the Springboks has been resolved following talks between the national rugby establishment and the government in Pretoria.
The South African government had earlier tabled immigration laws that threatened to bar sportspersons without South African passports from turning out for national teams.
The Zimbabwean at the center of the case is Tendai Mtawarira, who ran afoul of a new law barring non-South African athletes from playing on a national team.
Mtawarira, popularly known as "Beast," and fellow Springboks players Brian Mujati and Tonderai Chavhanga, faced the possibility of being benched or dismissed.
South Africa Rugby Communications Manager Andy Colquhoun tells VOA Studio 7 reporter Marvellous Mhlanga Nyahuye that following discussions between South Africa Rugby and government officials, Mtawarira will play against France on Friday.
