Johannes Jonker

Jonker joined Bath from Ealing Trailfinders ahead of the 2021/22 campaign. That was after spending five years with Lions, the Johannesburg-based Super Rugby franchise, either side of a short spell with Montpellier Hérault Rugby.

Indeed, the 28-year-old prop made his EPCR debut with the French club in 2017, playing three games in the Heineken Champions Cup before returning to South Africa. He then added two more appearances in the competition last term for Bath.

Louis Schreuder

The 32-year-old scrum-half is a new Bath signing for the forthcoming campaign, having arrived from Newcastle Falcons where he spent the past two seasons. During that time, he made five EPCR Challenge Cup appearances.

Capped once by South Africa in 2017, Schreuder made his name in Super Rugby with Stormers, Southern Kings and Sharks, before leaving his home country for France in 2019 and a season with RC Toulon, for whom he made one Challenge Cup appearance.

Jordan Venter

The 20-year-old centre made the switch from Edinburgh Rugby to Bath in December 2021, having become the first foreign schoolboy to sign a professional contract with Scottish Rugby in 2020.

Jaco Coetzee

The 26-year-old No.8 still awaits his first EPCR appearance for Bath, having joined the Gallagher Premiership club in 2021 from Stormers.

Chris Cloete

Cloete joined Bath this summer, bolstering the club's options in the back five of the scrum. He previously spent five years with Munster Rugby, for whom he made 10 Heineken Champions Cup appearances, scoring one try, and won the 2020/21 Pro14 Turnover King prize.

Before his move to Ireland, the 31-year-old played for Southern Kings, Western Province and Pumas, winning international honours for South Africa A in 2017.

Juan Schoeman

Schoeman moved to Bath in 2020 following three years with Blue Bulls, four with Sharks and a loan spell with Southern Kings.

The loosehead prop has made four EPCR appearances for the English side – two in the Heineken Champions Cup and two in the Challenge Cup.

GJ van Velze

Van Velze also joined Bath this summer and provides the Premiership club with cover across the back five of the scrum, including at No.8 and second row.

The 34-year-old has been in England since 2012, winning the Premiership with Northampton Saints before switching to Worcester Warriors in 2014. Altogether he has made 17 EPCR appearances across both competitions, scoring one try.

Amid the landmark expansion of EPCR tournaments to include South African sides for the first time, we are looking at players from that country already with Challenge Cup clubs. Next, we look at the South African players representing Bath Rugby.