Boan Venter’s Springbok call-up this weekend has raised eyebrows in Scottish rugby circles, appearing to signal a U-turn in the Edinburgh prop’s international intentions.
The 26-year-old loosehead was named by Rassie Erasmus as the only new face in a revised 45-man Springbok squad, replacing injured front-row options following the completion of South Africa’s first week of training for the 2025 international season.
Venter’s inclusion is notable not only for his form in the URC and EPCR Challenge Cup, but because it comes just two years after he publicly declared his desire to play for Scotland. In 2023, the South Africa-born forward said it was his “dream” to follow in the footsteps of clubmates Pierre Schoeman, WP Nel and Duhan van der Merwe by representing his adopted country.
“It’s five years to be qualified, so I’m definitely looking forward to that,” he said at the time. “From being a young boy, it has been my dream to play international rugby… the dream is there.”
Having joined Edinburgh from the Toyota Cheetahs in early 2021, Venter would have become eligible for Scotland via the five-year residency rule in February 2026. He had previously signed a contract extension with Edinburgh through to the end of the 2025/26 season, further reinforcing his apparent commitment to Scottish rugby.
Yet his selection by Erasmus this weekend suggests a change in direction — or at least, a renewed openness to representing his country of birth. “Boan has been consistent for Edinburgh in the Vodacom URC and the EPCR Challenge Cup,” Erasmus said. “He is familiar with the South African structures after playing for the Toyota Cheetahs and coming through our junior ranks, so we are looking forward to seeing him in action on the field.”
Whether Venter ultimately wins a Test cap for South Africa remains to be seen. But accepting the Springbok invitation places him on a path that would likely rule out any future involvement with Scotland.
Erasmus successfully re-poached former Ireland second-row Jean Kleyn in 2023. Kleyn had represented Ireland but missed out on Andy Farrell’s 2023 Rugby World Cup squad. He was duly called into the Springboks squad and went on to represent them at the tournament, where he would ultimately pick up a winners’ medal.
