Ernst Joubert is one of a strong South African playing contingent at Saracens

Saracens will play South Africa at Wembley as part of the Tri-Nations and world champions' tour this autumn.

The Guinness Premiership leaders will host the Springboks on 17 November following their Test against France and prior to games with Italy and Ireland.

The tourists' opening match is against Leicester Tigers on 6 November.

"This is yet more evidence of our club's ambitions," said Saracens boss Brendan Venter. I can assure you our players will need no extra motivation."

Saracens are part-owned by a South African consortium led by businessman Johann Rupert, whose daughter Caroline is on a board of directors including ex-Springboks Francois Pienaar and Morne du Plessis, while Venter - another former Springbok - is director of rugby.

The club have started the Guinness Premiership season with four consecutive victories and lead the table by a point from London Irish.

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"Many South Africans have been excited by Saracens' outstanding start to the season," said Andy Marinos, acting managing director of SA Rugby.

"We look forward to playing our full part in what will be a great evening for our players and coaches, and also the large expatriate South African community in London and south-east England."

South Africa are currently ranked the number one international side in the world, a status they reaffirmed through victory in the recent Tri-Nations series against New Zealand and Australia.

Peter de Villiers, Springboks coach, said: "We have enjoyed a fantastic year so far, and this match - against an in-form club team at one of the great stadiums in the world - will certainly become yet another highlight in this memorable season.

"Overseas tours always provide us with an opportunity to expose our emerging young talents to the international game and this will be a fantastic platform through which to do that.

"We expect Saracens to be tough but we also believe in the abilities of our squad."

The South African squad will travel to London after playing France in Toulouse on 14 November and will then move on to Udine, where they play Italy on 21 November, before a final game against Ireland in Dublin on 28 November.

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