Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson has called for patience surrounding viral speedster Lleyton Davids, revealing that the former Boland club rugby star is currently sidelined with shin splints as his body adjusts to the physical demands of professional rugby.
Davids, a three-time national triple jump champion nicknamed the "Robertson Express" for his blistering barefoot speed, caught the eye during the Stormers' pre-season warm-up match against the Bulls in Paarl, scoring a stunning solo try. However, fans eager to see the exciting winger unleashed in the United Rugby Championship will have to wait a little longer.
Addressing questions regarding Davids’ availability, Dobson explained that transitioning directly from amateur club rugby to a high-intensity professional environment is a gradual process that requires careful physical management.
"Lleyton will get his opportunity when he’s fit and when he’s actually training," Dobson said. "He’s got shin splints. I think what is absolutely missed by everybody is the fact that this guy’s been playing club rugby.
“To ask his body, no matter what he’s printed in Dubai, to handle the professional rugby training load is an impossibility. His body is going to take a while. He’s progressing way ahead in terms of his rugby ability, and we are super excited.
“But to think that a guy could go play his last club game for Robertson Town, do well in that friendly against the Bulls, and then be ready for a European Cup game, it just doesn’t happen."
Dobson confirmed that Davids has missed recent training sessions while recovering, rendering him unavailable for selection in the immediate future, but reiterated the franchise's strong long-term belief in his raw potential.
"His body can’t cope with our load at the moment, but he will get there very fast," Dobson added. "For example, he hasn’t trained the last two weeks, which makes him ineligible for selection. That’s because he’s got shin splints from running on the grass in boots, which he’s just not used to.
"It’s a thing of 30 or 40 years ago when you pluck a guy out from club rugby and expect him to play top-end professional sport overnight. But he’s tracking super, super excitingly.
“I hope he gets a URC game this season, and I think anything else is naive and unfair on the kid. He’s working incredibly hard to get himself used to the demands of our training."