The Springboks have confirmed that Butch James has been pulled from South Africa's squad and will not play in Saturday's clash with Wales.

Yesterday Bath Rugby chief executive Nick Blofeld told the Chronicle that the club had withdrawn James from the national squad amid a dispute over player release regulations.

This morning, the South African Rugby Union confirmed that the World Cup-winner, who is desperate to reignite his international career after a two-year absence from the Springbok fold, had been replaced in the squad.

"James has been withdrawn by Bath Rugby Club amidst objections relating to the International Rugby Board’s June release window," said a SARU statement. "The Springbok management will confirm the revised Test line-up later today."

Bulls full-back Zane Kirchner has been called up to replace James.

Yesterday, SARU was sticking to its guns and insisting that James would play, but it has backed down in the teeth of increasingly strong language from Premier Rugby Ltd.

The saga over James' involvement began on Monday when Premier Rugby, the umbrella organisation that represents top-flight English clubs, ordered Bath to tell James to return to his club because of its position of not allowing players to appear in matches that are not governed by the International Rugby Board's regulation on player release.

Bath chief executive Nick Blofeld and team manager Dave Guyan held meetings on Tuesday to discuss James' situation and on Tuesday evening Blofeld told the Chronicle that the South African had been pulled from the national squad.

Asked by the Chronicle whether the club had told James he couldn't play for South Africa at the weekend, Blofeld replied: "Yes, he has been withdrawn."​

Premier Rugby had reportedly threatened to report South Africa to the International Rugby Board if James was not released back to his club.

"The situation on release of international players for the June window is clear under IRB Regulation 9," said a Premier Rugby spokesman.

"The release of players is required for matches on the second, third and fourth weekends of June and for five clear training days in advance. This release is intended for matches being played in the Southern Hemisphere.

"The first weekend in June is not part of the IRB release period and unions have no right to release of players from the clubs.

"In the interests of player welfare, which the IRB Working Accord made the top priority, this first weekend was intended under the regulation to be a period of travel for the players so they would be in best condition for the June tests in the southern hemisphere.

"This now appears to be compromised by international matches being arranged in the Northern Hemisphere for apparently commercial reasons."

The dispute over his selection arose despite James having been selected 11 days ago and his name having been linked to selection for months.

​