Bad news for the Boks as Etzebeth injury is revealed to be 'quite serious'

Eben Etzebeth is set to miss the opening rounds of the Rugby Championship after Sharks boss Neil Powell revealed his shoulder injury was worse than initially thought.

The Springbok centurion played the first of the Sharks' Champions Cup round of 16 clash with Munster but did not come out for the second forty.

The Sharks confirmed after the match that he had sustained a shoulder injury, with initial reports ruling him out for a few weeks.

However, Powell dropped the bombshell during the press conference following the Sharks' team announcement to face Toulouse in the quarter-finals.

According to Powell, Etzebeth faces 14 weeks on the sidelines and will not feature for the Durban-based side again this season.

"Eben's injury is quite serious," he explained.

"In terms of how long he will be out for, I think it's quite a long time; I'm not 100 per cent sure, but probably 12 or 14 weeks.

"I don't think he'll play for us again this season, but he will definitely be ready for the World Cup."

According to the timeline, the 2022 SA Rugby Player of the Year is set to miss The Rugby Championship opener against Australia in Pretoria on 8 July.

Depending on how quickly he recovers, he could return in time for the clash with the All Blacks in Auckland a week later.

The Springboks then host Argentina in their final game of the shortened Rugby Championship at Ellis Park.

They then have Rugby World Cup warm-up games against Los Pumas, Wales and the All Blacks.

Etzebeth's injury adds further pressure on the Sharks, with Springbok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Hendrikse also picked up an injury during the match against Munster and needed surgery on his shoulder, which he injured in the act of scoring.

He faces up to 10 weeks on the sidelines and has been replaced in the Sharks team to face Toulouse by fellow Springbok Grant Williams.