Springbok duo Andre Esterhuizen and Wilco Louw will miss the first weekend of the English Premiership resumption after having issues with their visas.

Esterhuizen and Louw, who both joined Harlequins from the Sharks and Stormers, respectively, have yet to arrive in London and link up with their new side despite the Premiership restarting this weekend.

The duo have reportedly experienced issues with their visas caused by the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown in South Africa.

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Harlequins coach Paul Gustard expressed his frustration at the delay, but said both South Africans were expected to arrive in London this weekend.

‘The ability to get in and get the necessary paperwork done, with the number of places shut down, has taken us a lot longer than we anticipated,’ Gustard said.

‘But we have got numbers and it will be a nice boost when these players arrive and give us a lift.’

Harlequins also signed Lions back Tyrone Green and experienced tighthead prop Maks van Dyk from Toulon, both of whom have been included in the squad for the rest of the 2019-20 season.

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Harlequins begin their Premiership restart with a tough fixture against the second-placed Sale Sharks, who count the Du Preez brothers, Faf de Klerk and Lood de Jager among the South Africans in their squad.