Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira, who has played 22 international matches for South African national rugby team the Springboks, is no longer eligible to play for them.

The Springbok selectors have been instructed by the South African Rugby Union (SARU) not to select Mtawarira, or any other non-South African passport holder, for the national team, following communication from the department of Sport and Recreation.

Mtawarira was born in Zimbabwe but lives in the South African port city of Durban, where he plays for the Sharks rugby team.

He is immensely popular with South African rugby fans, who cheer his name loudly during matches.

On Saturday, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported that SARU received a letter on Friday from South African deputy sports minister Gert Oosthuizen, reaffirming the South African government's position that no foreign player can be selected to represent a national team.

Mtawarira is legally a resident and employed in South Africa and was selected to play for the Springboks, having fulfilled the eligibility criteria of the International Rugby Board.

"We have had extensive and robust conversations with government on this issue," said Oregan Hoskins, president of SARU.

"But we respect the authority of the ministry and have instructed our selectors in that regard."

According to SAPA, Hoskins added Mtawarira wished to become a South African citizen as soon as possible and SARU had been assisting him in fulfilling the necessary criteria.