- The Sharks confirmed Eben Etzebeth will miss the team's three-match overseas tour after suffering a lower limb injury against the Stormers
- Coach JP Pietersen said the lock was in considerable pain after leaving the field before half-time, with a knee injury suspected
- The Sharks are awaiting further medical examination to determine the full extent of the injury, adding to an already lengthy injury list
Eben Etzebeth faces another stint on the sidelines after the Sharks confirmed the veteran lock sustained a lower-limb injury during their clash with the Stormers over the weekend.
The 33-year-old was visibly struggling and unable to run when he was withdrawn from the field shortly before half-time. Head coach JP Pietersen told reporters after the match that Etzebeth appeared to have a knee problem and was in considerable pain.
The Sharks have since confirmed that Etzebeth will not travel with the 28-man squad departing this week for a three-match overseas tour covering France, Wales and Ireland. In an official statement, the Durban club said it was "awaiting a further medical examination to determine the extent of the injury."
The timing is a blow for both club and player. Etzebeth spent a significant portion of the first half of the season sidelined due to a series of concussion and injury setbacks, making this latest setback a fresh concern for the Springbok and Sharks faithful.
Sharks tour ahead despite mounting injury concerns
Etzebeth is not alone on the casualty list. Makazole Mapimpi (hamstring), Phepsi Buthelezi (shoulder), Vusi Moyo (shoulder), Fez Mbatha (lower limb), Hendre Stassen (tendon) and Yaw Penxe (pectoral) are all currently sidelined.
Addressing the injury situation ahead of the tour, the club noted: "With the usual attrition rate associated with a highly competitive tour such as this, there will be reinforcements sent over as the tour goes on, including the Sharks' Springboks, who are on mandatory rest after a gruelling few months of rugby."
The tour opens on Saturday with a Challenge Cup Group Three fixture against Lyon at the Stade de Gerland in France, a 35,000-seater venue. Pietersen will choose his matchday squad from 17 forwards and 11 backs named for the encounter, which kicks off at 14:00. Lyon, who claimed the Challenge Cup title in 2022, are currently eighth in the Top 14 after six rounds. The Sharks are the defending champions, having won the competition in 2024.
Following the Lyon fixture, the squad travels to Wales to face Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship, before concluding the tour in Ireland against ninth-placed Munster at the end of October.
Springboks veterans face another 2027 question
Briefly News previously reported that Jake White had raised concerns about the physical demands being placed on several experienced Springboks during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
The 2007 World Cup-winning coach questioned how much more players such as Malcolm Marx, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi could give after a demanding run of Tests.
Source: Briefly News