James holds 31 South African international caps

Bath fly-half Butch James has been retained in South Africa's squad for the Nelson Mandela Tribute Test and the rest of the Tri-Nations series.

World Cup-winning James, 29, now looks likely to miss all of his English club's pre-season fixtures.

James is not due to return until a week before the start of his second season at the Recreation Ground.

The Springboks play Argentina to mark Mandela's 90th birthday, before Tests against New Zealand and Australia.