Izak van der Westhuizen when he first arrived in Edinburgh
Lock Izak van der Westhuizen has not passed his medical fitness tests and as such will not be joining the EP Kings for their Currie Cup campaign.
The second row forward started his professional career with the Cheetahs and moved to Edinburgh in 2012 before joining up with the Kings this year.
EP Rugby CEO Charl Crous said the three year contract with the 28-year-old lock out of Kimberley, was subject to his passing his medical fitness tests, and as such the contract would not be coming into effect, effectively releasing Van der Westhuizen.
rugby365
“Izak has had three concussions since the beginning of the year and has been advised by the specialist not to play any rugby for the next six months to a year,” said Crous.
“We wish him a speedy recovery and all the best for his future,” said Crous.
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Feel very sorry for Izak van der Westhuizen in this situation. He left Edinburgh to join EP to be closer to his young family but now is left without a contract. It sounds as if the deal was always subject to a medical being passed so hopefully for him he was aware that this could happen and he had a backup plan. One wonders what kind of insurance pay outs he could get if any.
I realized that his time at Edinburgh had been plagued by injury but that was more during his first season (2012/2013) and this season it felt like he had played quite a lot for the club, until later in the season. Had a look to check up on this perception I had and he did manage to play 18 games for Edinburgh this season, so it is alarming to read that he has suffered three concussions since January.
Would like to wish the man all the best for the future and hope that he recovers as he could go on and still make a solid contribution to a Currie Cup team if it was a wise decision from a medical point of view to get back to rugby eventually. Ultimately though his long term health is more important as there have already been far too many rugby players who have suffered long term consequences from concussion so perhaps it is better for him and his family if he doesn’t make it back onto a rugby field – as a player.