AJ Venter has withdrawn from the Springbok Tri-Nations rugby tour to Australia and New Zealand and quit international rugby, says a report in The Witness.

Venter, who turns 34 soon, cited personal and business commitments for his decision. However, he will continue to play for the Sharks in the Currie Cup this season and will end his playing career with one more Super 14 season next year. He was one of the outstanding players in this year’s Super 14 and he was initially in Jake White’s Springbok squad, but he missed the opening test against England last month because he was away on honeymoon. He was then overlooked by Springbok coach Jake White for subsequent tests until selected this week as part of the second-string squad to play in the remaining Tri-Nations tests in Sydney and Christchurch. Meanwhile, the Springbok selectors have named replacements for Venter and the injured Western Province flank Luke Watson for the Tri-Nations trip to Australasia. Venter has been replaced by Jacques Cronjé while Kabamba Floors will take the place of Watson, who has a rib injury.
Full report in The Witness