CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber had earmarked a role for flyhalf Morne Steyn at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France but respects his decision to retire from the international game.

Steyn announced on Tuesday that he would no longer be available for the Springboks, bringing to an end a 12-year international career that contained 68 tests, and which was recently revived as he kicked the team to victory against the British & Irish Lions in August.

The 37-year-old cited family reasons for his decision to quit the Boks, and Nienaber has no qualms with the decision, especially in light of the harsh bio-secure bubbles the team has had to endure this year.