Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is reported to have offered Fourie du Preez the Springbok captaincy for South Africa's three match Test Series against England next month.

Meyer is said to have met with Du Preez earlier this week in order to offer him the captaincy on a short term basis earlier this week according to blog site Keo.

Du Preez was understood to have retired from playing international rugby by moving to Japan where he now plays for Suntory Goliath.

Meyer initially wanted Victor Matfield to come out of retirement but an IRB drug rule prevented this as a player may not play international rugby for six months after announcing his comeback.

Meyer coached Matfield and Du Preez at the Bulls and Meyer is known to have the highest respect for the pair.

The IRB rule is to prevent players suddenly returning to the game once illegal drugs are out of their system if they had announced their retirement.

SARU CEO Jurie Roux confirmed earlier this week that Matfield will not play but said he may be included in Bok Management in some way.

"We have discussed the option, but the International Rugby Board's regulations counted against us," Roux told Reuters.

"We would be keen to use Victor's outstanding knowledge and have not ruled out the option of using it in some other way in the future."

It is not yet known whether Du Preez has accepted the offer to take over the Springbok captaincy.