Former World Rugby Player of the Year Schalk Burger was recalled to South Africa's squad for the Rugby Championship tests against Australia and New Zealand in place of injured Francois Louw, the South African Rugby Union said on Wednesday.

Burger has been playing in Japan, where he has a club match on Friday after which he will join up with the Springbok squad in Cape Town, preparing to face Australia on September 27 and a final game with New Zealand in Johannesburg on October 4.

Burger returned to the national fold in June after almost two years out with injury and illness.

He came off the bench to face Wales in two tests and started versus Scotland but missed the first four Rugby Championship tests due to club commitments.