Vodacom Bulls lock Fudge Mabeta will miss the 2012 Super Rugby campaign after being injured in a car accident.
Official Bulls media release
Mabeta will be out of action for at least six to eight months after rupturing a knee ligament and will be operated upon later this month, team doctor Org Strauss confirmed on Wednesday.
The Vodacom Bulls re-assembled in Pretoria earlier in the day after the Christmas break and Mabeta was the obvious casualty during medical check-ups.
A host of players are at various degrees of recovery and will join the fray as soon as allowed by Strauss.
Juandré Kruger (10 days), Bjorn Basson (14 days), Gerrit-Jan van Velze and Wesley Dunlop (7 days) will join sooner rather than later, while the likes of Dewald Potgieter, Francois Venter, Warwick Tecklenburg and Wynand Olivier are amongst those that will return to full training by next month.
Rossouw de Klerk has already being ruled out for the biggest part of the Super Rugby season following surgery to his foot and Morné Mellett is expected to be fit for selection in another six weeks.
Commenting on the resumption of their preparations, Vodacom Bulls captain Pierre Spies indicated that the players are rearing to go.
“We have big plans and big dreams for 2012. The Bulls have established a proud record in Super Rugby in recent seasons and that acts as a great motivating factor. Everybody is keen to go,” Spies indicated.
The Bulls will play warm-up matches in early February against the Kings (Feb 4th) in Port Elizabeth and the Cheetahs (Feb 11th) in Polokwane.
They open their Super Rugby campaign against the Sharks in Pretoria on February 24th.
Not too bad losing Fudge, he was ALWAYS going to be backup at best.
Rossouw de Klerk really the only long term loss which counts… as backup prop, but even that is OK… there’s still Frik Kirsten & Dawie Steyn at prop too, apart from the obvious starters of Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger.
Juandre Kruger, Bjorn Basson, Van Velze & Dunlop…. ready soon… Dewald Potgieter, Wynand Olivier, Francois Venter & Tecklenburg should be good to go before Super Rugby kicks off.
Happy times, it seems!
While he may not have been a first choice player its not good to hear of such a nasty injury to a player, all the best Fudge hope the operation and recovery go well.
Seems like the Bulls started 2012 a week earlier than the other 4 SA Super Rugby Franchises.
They started their work for the year on 4 January 2012, whilst it seems the Lions, Sharks, Stormers and Cheetahs are only starting on Monday 9 January.
I received the Bulls weekly program, as per usual, and it seems Wednesday 4 Jan consisted of the following:
07:00 – 08:00 Coaches Meeting: Frans Ludeke’s office
08:00 – 09:00 Management Meeting: CEO Board Room
09:00 – 09:30 Opening: Auditorium – Pierre Spies doing the honors
09:30 – 11:00 Medical Screening: Dr Org – All injured Players PLUS Testing: BC – Gym
11:00 – 12:00 Testing: RSA – D-Field
12:00 – 15:00 Lunch: Kraal
15:00 – 15:30 Rehab Group
15:30 – 16:00 Strapping PLUS Hookers: John McFarlane
16:00 – 17:00 Testing: Bleep – B-Field
17:00 – 17:30 Mechanics – Stretch
17:30 – 19:00 Recovery: Swim
So, all in all it was a light day to start, the next few days much heavier!
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