Springboks coach Peter de Villiers included the bustling Sharks star for the national planning camp that starts in Durban today and runs until tomorrow.
The Beast is one of 37 players de Villiers called up.
The assembly is the second of three planned get-togethers for leading South African players and Springbok management to make logistical preparations for the coming international season.
Zimbabwes loss has proven to be South Africas gain as far as the exploits of Mutawarira are concerned.
He was selected as part of the South African National Rugby Union team and made his debut playing against Wales in a test match on the in June 2008.
The following week, on June 21, Mtawarira scored a try against Italy as well as winning the ‘Man of the Match’ award.
He attended Peterhouse Boarding School in Marondera, along with Stormers and recently capped Springbok player Brian Mujati.
Notably, despite living in South Africa and representing the country internationally, Mtawarira was a Zimbabwean national until late June 2010 after qualifying for South African citizenship by three years’ residency, as allowed under International Rugby Board rules.
Meanwhile, de Villiers group includes four players who were not called to the first camp in Cape Town in mid-May. They are in-form Toyota Free State loose forward Ashley Johnson and Frans Steyn, Ruan Pienaar and Butch James the latter trio all had commitments with overseas clubs at the time of the first camp.
The fact that a player may not have been included in this group does not mean they are out of the running for the International season by any means, said de Villiers said at last Thursdays press conference.
The first session was designed to get an expanded group onto the same page and this reduced group with senior players, and one or two newcomers, is designed to go into more detail.
11.6.2011
10:44
More caps beckon for Mtawarira
JOHANNESBURG - Zimbabwe-born Tendai Mutawarira is in line to add to his 26 Test caps for South Africa when the new international rugby season commences next month.


