Ahmed's Springbok tour to be cut short?
INJURY UPDATE: Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus revealed a worrying update regarding the fitness of rookie Stormers flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed.
The 2026 Junior World Championship winner caught the eye after an impressive showing in his debut match at senior level against the All Blacks during the Greatest Rivalry series, and scored three tries in his last two United Rugby Championship outings.
The 19-year-old playmaker also featured earlier this season for South Africa ‘A’ against the Zimbabwe Sables before getting his senior Bok squad call-up ahead of the European leg of the Nations Championship.
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*Also read: Erasmus backs experience for Springboks’ Italy Test
#OPINION: @rugby365com columnist @jon_cardinelli looks at Rassie Erasmus’ tight-five options with an eye on development during the second leg of the Nations Championship. 👇#SouthAfrica #Springboks #ITAvRSA #NationsChampionship
https://t.co/aqzQvEQiaq— Rugby365 (@rugby365com) November 2, 2026
But Ahmed’s tour could be cut short after sitting out training on Monday afternoon due to a shoulder niggle, Erasmus confirmed at the team announcement press conference.
“The doctor told me he [Yaqeen Ahmed] is a bit sore,” Erasmus told Rugby365 from the Springboks’ hotel in Turin.
“I saw him, and he was honest with me and told me he had a sore shoulder.
“Normally new players would try and hide an injury a bit; he was nice and honest.
“It doesn’t help he’s here, and players just watch the guys training; we want them to participate.
“But obviously if a player stays a few days and feels out the environment a little bit, starts understanding how we do things and talk to Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu], Aphelele Fassi and those guys, that would be great.
“But if we need somebody and he can’t play, we’ll make the call whether he has to return to South Africa.
“It looks like he’ll have to go back home and go for a scan or two, but we’ll make that call tomorrow morning,” Erasmus concluded.
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