CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- Victor Matfield will attempt to win the Rugby World Cup again with South Africa next year at the age of 38 after his playing return was announced on Friday -- more than two years after he retired. DQwell Jackson Youth Jersey . The Bulls Super Rugby team said Matfield accepted a contract to play again for the 2014 and 2015 seasons and South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer immediately welcomed the move by the player he used to coach at the Pretoria-based Bulls. "Im glad that Victor has decided to put on his boots again and Im looking forward to seeing him in action," Meyer said in a statement from the South African Rugby Union that swiftly followed the Bulls announcement. "He was not given any guarantees about Springbok selection. If he can show he still has what it takes to be a Springbok, he will be considered along with every other player who is eligible." South Africa has struggled to fill the second-rowers place after he retired with 110 test appearances -- the second most for the Springboks -- following the loss to Australia in the quarterfinals at the 2011 World Cup. Meyer was open to a return by Matfield as early as 2012, the coachs first season in charge of the Springboks. "I have always maintained that we have a lack of depth at (No.) 5 lock and believed that Victor could still make a valuable contribution as a player," Meyer said, meaning its probable that Matfield will be called up by the Springboks this season if his return for the Bulls in Super Rugby is successful. The 36-year-old Matfields first top-level game in over two years will come straight away on Saturday, the Bulls said, when he will play off the bench in a Super 15 warm-up game against the Cape-Town based Stormers and show if hes capable of making the step up again. "He has shown on the training field in the last couple of months that he is still hungry to succeed at the top levels of the game," Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said. Matfields return was widely expected, with his contact negotiations with the Bulls the only thing holding up confirmation. He had been working as part of the teams coaching staff and a deal to keep him with the Bulls as a coach in 2016 and 2017 after his playing stint was part of the agreement. Matfield was outstanding for South Africa when it won the World Cup in 2007. He captained the Bulls to all three of their Super Rugby titles and has played more games, including tour games, for South Africa than any player. Only former skipper John Smit with 111 caps has played more tests. The lock and lineout specialists return is almost certainly so he can make one more appearance at the World Cup in Britain next year and try and help the Springboks wrestle the trophy away from New Zealand. Meyer hinted as much when he talked about the recalls of veterans Os du Randt and Bob Skinstad by South Africa in the 2007 World Cup triumph. "Weve seen in the past that players can make a successful return to rugby after a lengthy period on the sidelines," Meyer said. "(Former South Africa coach) Jake White successfully brought back Os du Randt and Bob Skinstad, who both played a vital role when the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup in 2007. "Victor ... knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Im sure he would not have made this decision had he known he would not be able to compete or believed he could be the best in his position again." Andre Johnson Womens Jersey . Bayern led second-place Leverkusen by 10 points with a game in hand, while Dortmund was another four points off the pace. Freiburg midfielder Felix Klaus scored in the last minute as his side twice came from behind to climb provisionally out of the relegation zone. Jerrell Freeman Womens Jersey . Four years after winning gold on home ice in Vancouver, the Canadians will get a chance to make it two in a row Sunday against Sweden after beating the United States 1-0 in the Olympic semifinals Friday at Bolshoy Ice Dome.CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- Forget worlds best fighter, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was rated by the South African government as the worlds greatest athlete and backed him to turn around boxing in the country. The sports ministry announced Mayweather will arrive on Wednesday for a near-weeklong visit -- his first to Africa and a triumph for the country which finally got its man after trying to lure the 36-year-old superstar as guest of honour at the national sports awards last year. The Ministry of Sport and Recreation also said on Tuesday that the boxer nicknamed "Money" had not been paid any fee to come. It hopes he can do more than just throw a few jabs and sign a few autographs for boxing in South Africa, which was still popular but in steady decline. Mayweathers four-city visit would help "resuscitate" the sport, ministry spokesman Paena Galane told The Associated Press. "Remember, hes the greatest athlete in the world," Galane said. Mayweathers schedule will include an exhibition at a gym in the Johannesburg township of Soweto and possibly a visit to late South African President Nelson Mandelas apartheid-era jail on Robben Island when hes in Cape Town. Mayweather will also visit Bloemfontein and East London on the south east coast, the ciity regarded as the hotbed of South African boxing. Erik Walden Womens Jersey. "We wanted someone whos knowledgeable as a fighter and as a promoter," Galane said of South Africas pursuit of Mayweather to be the catalyst for its boxing revival. Mayweather does both better than most. In his last fight in September, Mayweather dominated Canelo Alvarez to improve to 45-0 with 26 knockouts and enhance his reputation as the best boxer of his era. He earned $41.5 million for the fight, which was the richest ever and generated around $150 million in TV revenue alone. The five-division world champion hasnt announced an opponent for his next fight, expected to be in May, although Britains Amir Khan has said he has signed an initial contract that may give him a shot at the undefeated American. Galane dismissed suggestions that reporters wouldnt be allowed to ask Mayweather questions on his future fight plans when he appears alongside South Africas sports minister and the head of its Olympic committee at a promotional event in Johannesburg on Wednesday. While the flamboyant Mayweather is expected to be accompanied by his usual large travelling entourage, the sports ministry said he would arrive on a commercial flight from the United States and not on a private jet. wholesale nfl jerseyswholesale jerseys ' ' '
