The Stormers can expect Damian Willemse back in a month, if his injury recuperation goes to plan. Photo: AFP
The Stormers should have star players Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu back on the rugby field in about four weeks, if there are no setbacks in their rehabilitation.
Willemse (hip) and Feinberg-Mngomezulu (sternum and thumb) will be joined by Suleiman Harzenberg (hand) and Jean-Luc du Plessis (wrist) in boosting the side as early as next month.
There are currently 15 of our players unavailable for selection due to injury.
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) February 19, 2025
📋 Full injury update https://t.co/5zzAoEu4Hv#iamastormer pic.twitter.com/omFHNQ4zuG
That means the Cape outfit will head to Loftus Versfeld next weekend without any returning players. For a third game-week in a row, director of rugby John Dobson will have a limited squad to select from. This has been a struggling period for the Stormers without some of their key players.
Currently, they are on a three-match losing streak in the United Rugby Championship (URC), and the trip to Pretoria won’t be an easy one without their starters. The 11th-placed inaugural URC champions desperately need a win to stay in touch with the teams ahead of them on the points table. They are in danger of missing the playoffs, if they struggle over the next few away matches.
From the 15 injured players, only loose forward Louw Nel (hamstring) and lock Connor Evans (knee) will rejoin team training next week. But, they are fringe players and it’s highly unlikely they’ll be selected for trip to Loftus Versfeld.
Loosehead props Steven Kitshoff and Lizo Gqoboka are out for the season as they continue their longterm rehabilitation from serious injuries. They are joined by Ruhan Nel and Imad Khan who had shoulder surgery recently, as well as loose forward Keke (broken leg).
But, there will be a wait to see just when pivot Manie Libbok will return for the Stormers. He is still being treated for a knee injury and his comeback depends on how he responds to it. Lock JD Schickerling (shoulder), winger Seabelo Senatla (calf) and outside back JC Mars (ankle) will be out for at least the next four weeks.
Quan Horn had his hand in everything on Saturday 😮💨
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) February 18, 2025
Enjoy all the best moments from his man of the match performance!
#BKTURC #URC
Dobson earlier said he doesn’t expect any of his stars to be back for their next trip to Pretoria. He now has to decide on the composition of his team over the next week as they prepare to get their URC campaign back on track.
With the Bulls taking on the Lions, who the Stormers lost 30-23 against, this weekend in the only URC clash, the Stormers will know after Saturday what to expect in the second North-South derby of the season.
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