South Africa’s Nations Championship Opponents Bolster Squad With Former Springboks Hopeful
- Stade Français centre Jeremy Ward received his first call-up to the French national squad despite not yet being eligible to play for Les Bleus
- Ward captained South Africa Under-20s at the 2016 World Rugby Under-20 Championship before moving to France in 2022
- Ward's inclusion gives coach Fabien Galthié a chance to assess the centre ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup
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Stade Français centre Jeremy Ward has been named in France's 42-man Nations Championship squad by head coach Fabien Galthié, marking his first call-up to Les Bleus despite being ineligible to play during the upcoming campaign.
Ward, 30, joined Stade Français in 2022 and will only complete his five-year residency requirement in 2027, meaning he cannot make his international debut until then. His inclusion in the training squad, where he fills the spot left by the absent Bordeaux centre Nicolas Depoortere, is widely seen as a chance for Galthié to evaluate him ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup.
Because Ward is not yet eligible to play for France, he will sit out the squad's 13 November fixture against South Africa, the country where he began and built his professional career.
Ward's South African Roots
Before relocating to Paris, Ward spent his entire career in South Africa, turning out for the Sharks and Southern Kings among other clubs.
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He also captained the South Africa Under-20 side at the 2016 World Rugby Under-20 Championship, held in England. In the tournament opener, he crossed for two tries in a 59-19 victory over Japan, helping the Junior Springboks advance to the semi-finals. South Africa ultimately fell to England in the last four and then to Argentina in the third-place play-off, finishing fourth overall.
**Ward Open to Switching Allegiance**
Speaking to RMC Sport ahead of his call-up, Ward acknowledged both the complexity and the possibility of one day representing France. "I think it's a bit difficult because I was part of the under-20 team, I'm capped," he said. "And in the centres of the French national team, there are a lot of players, some very, very good players. I'm not going to say that if I change my sporting nationality, I'll be in the team, that's not the case. But if an opportunity comes up, maybe."
His presence at training will allow Galthié to observe how Ward integrates within the French setup, informing any decisions about whether the centre has a long-term role in France's plans for the 2027 World Cup.
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Source: Briefly News
