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Faf de Klerk is ruled out until the end of the year after Toyota Cheetahs released a medical update on their sideline star.
The two-time World Cup winner suffered an ankle injury in last month’s 29-27 loss Bayonne in the opening round Challenge Cup and now his club has confirmed he will not play again until January.
In a statement, the Cheetahs said: “Faf de Klerk suffered an ankle injury during the match against Bayonne on October 18 and will be sidelined for 8 weeks. He is expected to return in early January in time for Round 3 of the EPCR Challenge Cup, when the Toyota Cheetahs face Zebras Parma in Italy.
De Klerk was an integral part of the Cheetahs’ run to the semi-finals Currie Cup campaign, which preceded the start of the Challenge Cup campaign, following his summer move from the Canon Eagles in Japan.
Due to injury, de Klerk will miss the Cheetahs’ debut at their new home ground in Europe, the Challenge Cup second round match against the Dragons at St Helena in Swansea on December 13.
Marco Jansen van Vuren and Erich Visser will carry the load in the halves in his absence.
The 35-year-old won the last of his 60 Springbok caps in a 55-10 win against Georgia in July last year, although he performed against Barbarians in a non-performing game in June.
