Heineken Cup

Cheetahs Springbok Wian du Preez has joined fellow Bok Ricky Januarie in the Heineken Cup spotlight, as the legitimacy of his European jaunt is being questioned.

According to reports Irish province Munster, who signed Du Preez on a two-month contract, have been asked by the organisers of the Heineken Cup competition, ERC, to supply the paperwork on the registration of the Bok prop.

This comes just days after Welsh region Ospreys were hauled before ERC bosses over their loan-deal of Januarie.

According to ERC rules players have to be signed for at least three months to play in European competitions - such as the Heineken Cup or Amlin Challenge Cup - but the Bok scrumhalf, Januarie, returned to the Stormers after just over two months.

Munster said they were confident they had no case to answer over Du Preez, who also
stayed with his Irish team less than two months.

The Irish province brought in Springbok loosehead prop Du Preez because Marcus Horan was ill.

He played in four Heineken Cup pool matches and two Magners League games during December and January and then returned to South Africa to play for the Cheetahs in the Super 14.