Injuries
Springbok and Stormers stalwart Schalk Burger’s career has been put on hold, after it was revealed on Thursday that he is suffering from a life-threatening disease.
The Burger family issued a brief media statement in which they revealed that the 29-year-old loose forward has bacterial meningitis.
The Vodacom Bulls have called for two replacements for their last match of their Australasian tour against the Brumbies on Saturday.
Die Vodacom Bulls se beseringslysie op sy toer deur Australasië wil maar net nie ophou groei nie.
The Crusaders, already without Richie McCaw, suffered another captaincy blow ahead of their tour to South Africa.
A freak training incident has condemned Bok pivot to another session under the scalpel. According to team manager, Eugene van Wyk, Goosen slipped during training and injured the cruciate ligaments in his left knee.
Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard and Akona Ndungane will all be returning home following injuries in the Vodacom Bulls defeat at the hands of the Crusaders on Saturday.
Allister Coetzee, the head coach of the DHL Stormers, has released an injury update after his team’s 36-34 Vodacom Super Rugby win over the Chiefs this past weekend.
Rebels and Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale has been ruled out of Super Rugby for up to a month due to a hand injury.
Burton Francis, the much travelled 26-year old Griquas flyhalf, will fly in to join the Toyota Cheetahs on their Australasian Tour to replace the injured Elgar Watts.
Francis recently joined Griquas after initially forming part of the Southern Kings wider training group in the pre-season.
The Sharks are again being hampered by numerous injury setbacks before the Super Rugby season officially kicks off, no less than seven stars out for anything between 4 weeks and 8 weeks.
All Blacks and Hurricanes winger Cory Jane says that he is resigned to missing the entires 2013 Super Rugby season and he could also miss New Zealand’s end-of-year tour due to a ligament injury.
Hy het die afgelope twee jaar ondanks vier operasies moedig vir sy ondersteuners probeer terugveg.
Maar die Springbok-flank Juan Smith het Maandag weens ’n hakseningbesering geen ander keuse gehad as om finaal die gordyn oor sy suksesvolle rugbyloopbaan te laat sak nie.
DHL Stormers lock Eben Etzebeth will miss the start of his team’s 2013 Vodacom Super Rugby campaign, after being ruled out of action for six to eight weeks.
The Sharks scored 11 tries on their way to beating the Leopards 71-8 in a Super Rugby warm up match at Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Friday.
The Sharks ooutscored the Leopards by 11 tries to one but the victory may have come at a cost as captain Keegan Daniel injured his knee while Tim Whitehead has a suspected broken arm.
Scans of Johan Goosen’s troublesome left heel have shown that there is no damage other than bruising.
Toyota Cheetahs flyhalf sensation Johan Goosen is still under wraps! According to Hawies Fourie, the knee that was operated on last year is fine, but that Goosen is still experiencing discomfort with his left heel when kicking at goal. He will undergo a scan to determine if a hairline fracture of the heel may be the cause. If that is the case, he may only be out for an extra week.
England have suffered another injury blow ahead of their Six Nations Championship opener as centre Manu Tuilagi will miss the match due to an ankle injury.
New wing signing Michael Killian has been ruled out of the Southern Kings opening Super Rugby match against the Western Force in Port Elizabeth.
SA Rugby reports that Sharks prop Dale Chadwick is the latest injury casualty. He has a stress fracture in his foot and will likely be out for between four and six weeks. This leaves the Sharks decidedly thin in front row depth.
Injuries to several key players have forced Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu to make three changes to his squad for the forthcoming HSBC Sevens World Series tournaments in New Zealand and the USA.
It is being speculated that John Smit is being considered as possible cover at hooker for the start to the Stormers season.
Ireland have lost their South African born hooker Richardt Strauss for the entire Six Nations Championship due to an ankle ligament injury.
Johan Goosen and Coenie Oosthuizen have given the Cheetahs a boost with news that the Springbok duo will be fit for the start of the Super Rugby season.
Naka Drotske has reason to smile, as it is reported that Springboks Coenie Oosthuizen (back) and Johan Goosen (knee) are progressing well. Willie le Roux (groin), Phillip van der Walt (knee), Lappies Labuschagne (ankle) and Springbok Heinrich Brüssow (shoulder) are all on track for early participation in this years Super Rugby Competition.
A final decision regarding the playing future of Springbok flank Juan Smith will now only be made at the end of January.
Toulon lock Bakkies Botha will be sidelined for up to two months as the Springbok international undergoes surgery on a fractured eye socket.
Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll is on course to feature in the Six Nations tournament after returning to training with Leinster following ankle surgery.
Brumbies scrumhalf Nic White was assaulted at a music festival and has fractured his jaw, but is not expected to miss the start of the Super Rugby season.
Wales and Clermont fullback Lee Byrne looks set for a long lay-off after breaking a bone in his back during Saturday’s European Cup clash with Leinster.
The Wales rugby player flattened by a swinging arm from New Zealand hooker Andrew Hore suffered three-day memory loss as a result of the incident.
All Black flyhalf Dan Carter has been ruled out of Saturday’s clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium due to a leg injury.
The Wallabies have been forced to make a late change to their side for Saturday’s Test against Italy in Florence.
Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau comes off the bench, to be replaced by James Hanson, who is involved in the matchday squad on tour for the first time after making his debut during last month’s drawn Bledisloe Cup Test in Brisbane.
George North & Liam Williams
Wales have suffered a big blow ahead of their Test match at the Millennium stadium with New Zealand’s All Blacks as winger George North has been replaced by Liam Williams.
Golden Lions prop JC Janse van Rensburg will fly to London on Tuesday evening to replace the injured CJ van der Linde in the Springbok squad.
The Springboks may have to do without one of their few experienced in-form backline players in Saturday’s final test of the year against England at Twickenham.