Injury updates on Trokkie, Faf and RG
UPDATES: December has not been a good month for South Africa, as a number of high-profile players suffered significant injuries.
RG Snyman, Faf de Klerk and Juarno Augustus will all be sidelined for an extended period as a result of injuries suffered while playing for their teams abroad.
Double World Cup winner De Klerk, out of favour with the national team, suffered a serious ankle injury while playing for the Yokohama Eagles in the opening-round clash of the Japan Rugby League One season.
De Klerk posted a video on the Eagles’ social media channels informing fans that he will return to South Africa for treatment.
De Klerk expressed his frustration after another injury setback.
“Once again, I feel very sad to be leaving and disappointed,” said De Klerk, who missed the closing rounds of last season due to a hand injury.
“I felt I really worked hard to come back and be ready for this season, but I’m going back to make sure I get in the best condition possible to come back, join the team again and support if I’m not playing.
“I’ll be back as soon as possible to see all the supporters and players and hopefully join the last few games.”
Meanwhile, RugbyPass reports that De Klerk is attracting interest from his former club the Sale Sharks, and could be leaving Japan after this season.
Newcastle are also expected to enter the race for his signature.
(Continue below …)
A message from Faf 🗣️
怪我の治療のため、ファフ・デクラーク選手が、一時的にチームを離れることになりました。
復帰に向けて、イーグルスは全力でサポートします。
ファフ選手からのコメント動画です。
ぜひご覧下さい。#ファフデクラーク#FafDeKlerk#横浜キヤノンイーグルス pic.twitter.com/4xMhsWIHkH— 横浜キヤノンイーグルス (@Canon_Eagles) December 22, 2025
* Another double World Cup winner currently on the sidelines is lock RG Snyman.
Having endured an injury-plagued career at club level, Snyman sustained a shoulder injury and left the field inside the opening 20 minutes of the Champions Cup match against Harlequins early in December.
The South African lock had recently celebrated his 50th Test cap against Ireland in Dublin, making the timing of the setback particularly frustrating.
Leinster coach Leo Cullen acknowledged the seriousness of Snyman’s injury, saying the player felt “a bit uncomfortable”.
However, Snyman’s status on the weekly Leinster injury updates remains unchanged, and there is no indication of when he will return.
Snyman has faced a series of significant injuries, primarily two devastating ACL tears in his knee (one on his Munster debut in 2020, another in 2021) and complications from a freak firepit accident requiring skin grafts, alongside other setbacks like a recent hip injury in late 2025.
* The third big setback involved Springbok training squad member Juarno Augustus, who will be sidelined “for several weeks” because of the ankle ligament injury he sustained playing for Ulster in the United Rugby Championship win over Connacht in Galway.
Augustus left the field midway through the second half of his team’s 29-24 success and Ulster say the damage is “significant”.
The former Northampton Saints No.8 has been ruled out of Friday’s URC match with Munster in Belfast, but it is unlikely he will return soon.
