Report: Lood de Jager set for spell on sidelines after surgery

As per the Rapport newspaper, de Jager had surgery on a shoulder ligament last week and is set for around two months on the sideline.

The towering lock has unfortunate with injuries. He was diagnosed with a heart condition, pericarditis, which would see him miss out on the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

However, de Jager has since returned to playing for the Saitama Wild Knights in Japan this season thanks to a second opinion, which revealed a misdiagnosis of the condition.

Unfortunately for the 66-Test veteran, he now faces more time on the sidelines. The 31-year-old last ran out for the Boks in the 2023 Rugby Championship.     

De Jager is the latest Bok added to a lengthy injury list. Backline ballers Damian Willemse, Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse all recently had surgery, while scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse's shoulder is yet to be fully healed. Steven Kitshoff is still recovering from knee troubles.

Aside from these injuries, the Springboks playing for the Bulls in this weekend's United Rugby Championship final will not be available for selection for the Wales Test on Saturday. 

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