As the Springboks’ first Test of the season approaches, there are several important injury updates to consider for key players.
One significant piece of news this month involves Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who had to exit the field just 22 minutes into his comeback game for French club Racing 92. Having just returned from a previous injury, Kolisi appeared to sprain his right ankle during the round of 16 clash. There is now an anxious wait to see the duration of his absence as the 2024 Test season nears. Currently, no specific recovery timeline has been provided for him.
Recent Setbacks and Updates for the Springboks
World-class hooker Malcolm Marx is reportedly on track to return for the Test against Wales at Twickenham on June 22. Marx sustained a severe knee injury during a training session at last year’s World Cup and has been sidelined ever since. Although he is expected to recover in time for the Test season, he won’t have played any rugby prior to the opening game and will need to be gradually reintegrated into action.
Utility forward Deon Fourie is expected to miss the July series due to a knee injury incurred while playing for the Stormers in the Champions Cup. His chances of making the Bok squad have significantly diminished, though they were slim initially.
In another development, Ulster announced that Springbok loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff has sustained a season-ending knee injury. With only a few rounds left in the URC and Ulster out of EPCR competitions, the implications of this “season-ending” injury are concerning as the Test season for the Boks approaches. “Steven Kitshoff suffered a knee injury against Clermont in the EPCR Challenge Cup Quarter-Final fixture and, following a scan and specialist opinion, it has been determined that this is season-ending,” stated an injury update from the Northern Irish team. Kitshoff will return to South Africa this week to consult a knee specialist for a treatment plan.
Additional Injuries
World Cup winner Jean Kleyn has been dealing with an eye socket injury and received treatment in America. The specifics of his recovery time remain unclear. Munster coach Graham Rowntree shared, “Jean has been to America and we are very happy with the plan for him going forward. He will be available for the start of next season.” When asked if Kleyn could be available for the Springboks vs Ireland, Rowntree responded positively, noting that there had been confusion in the Irish media about the severity of Kleyn’s eye injury, but the treatment plan was satisfactory.
Lastly, World Cup flanker Marco van Staden’s injury, initially thought to be severe, is now considered less serious. Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White mentioned that Van Staden is a few weeks away from returning and is expected to participate in the URC playoffs for the Bulls.
