South Africa rugby union star Bryan Habana has been given a late Commonwealth Games lifeline after Toulon granted him permission to compete in Glasgow.

The World Cup-winning winger was selected in South Africa's original sevens squad for the competition in Scotland, but his French club initially blocked his participation.

Toulon have now changed their stance and have released Habana to represent his country, but the deadline for the submission of squads has passed and he is now relying on a teammate getting injured if he is to feature at the Games.

The Springboks open their group stage campaign on Saturday with games against Trinidad and Tobago, the Cook Islands and Kenya, before the knockout matches and medal games are contested on Sunday.

Habana starred in South Africa's 2007 World Cup triumph in France and has scored 55 tries in 97 internationals.