- Frans Malherbe has been out of action since March 2025 due to chronic neck and back problems that nearly ended his career
- The Springbok tighthead prop revealed he has returned to team training with the Stormers, though contact sessions remain off-limits
- Malherbe was recently voted the best tighthead prop of the modern era in the Springboks Dream XV
Springbok tighthead prop Frans Malherbe has shared an encouraging update on his recovery, signalling renewed hope of a return to professional rugby after more than 18 months away from the field.
Source: Getty Images
Malherbe, 35, last featured in a competitive match during the Stormers' United Rugby Championship fixture against the Scarlets in March 2025. Persistent neck and back problems have kept him sidelined since, raising serious doubts about whether his playing career would continue at all.
The veteran front-rower came close to walking away from the game entirely before Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus stepped in and urged him to persist with his rehabilitation before making any permanent decisions about his future.
Malherbe Back in Team Training
Speaking on the Boks Unpacked X The Verdict show, Malherbe told former Springbok Schalk Burger that progress had been steady.
He acknowledged the psychological lift that comes with returning to rugby-specific drills after months of individual conditioning work. Despite being excluded from the Stormers' URC squad for the 2026/27 season, Malherbe continues to train with the Cape Town-based franchise as he works his way back to full fitness.
Watch the interview below.
Voted Best Springbok Tighthead of the Modern Era
The update came as Malherbe was named the top tighthead prop in the Springboks Dream XV, a public vote recognising the finest players of the modern era. A two-time Rugby World Cup winner, he earned 76 Test caps across tenures under four Springbok head coaches: Heyneke Meyer, Allister Coetzee, Jacques Nienaber, and Rassie Erasmus.
Source: Briefly News
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