Francois Louw will miss the opening weeks of Bath Rugby's Aviva Premiership campaign after being named in the South Africa squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship
The talismanic back-rower is part of a 30-man Springboks party for the competition, which begins with two matches against Argenitina this month.
South Africa will open their campaign against the Pumas at the FNB Stadium in Soweto as part of the Nelson Mandela Sport & Culture Day celebrations on August 17 – the day Bath tackle Bristol in their first pre-season friendly. The following day they fly to South America for the return fixture on August 24.
They also face Australia in Brisbane on September 7 and New Zealand in Auckland on September 14. South Africa's final two home Tests are scheduled for September 28 in Cape Town against Australia and October 5 in Johannesburg against the All Blacks.
Meanwhile, Bath kick-off their season away to Newcastle on Friday, September 6 before facing big guns Leicester Tigers and Saracens on the following two weekends.
