No Bok tour for Cheslin, but return to play confirmed
Springbok superstar Cheslin Kolbe will not accompany the national team on the year-end Nations Champions tour, but his ‘return to play’ date has been confirmed.
South Africa, who lead the South Section of the competition, play Italy, France and Ireland as they aim to secure a place in the inaugural Final.
The top team from the South faces off against the leading light from the North at Twickenham in London on November 29.
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Kolbe, who suffered a broken jaw during South Africa’s 29–24 Test victory over New Zealand at FNB Stadium in Soweto on September 5, will not make the trip.
Matt Norton, the 32-year-old utility back’s agent, revealed that Kolbe had a double fracture of the jaw.
“The top part of the fracture was too close to his facial nerves,” Norton said, adding: “That delayed his return to play, because the bone had to fuse naturally.”
The Roc Nations Sports International agent put Kolbe’s return to play date at December 5, when the Stormers travel to Durban to face the Sharks in a United Rugby Championship derby.
Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson confirmed the agent’s statement, saying the 53-times capped Bok will not make the year-end tour.
“He is available to us from the start of December,” Dobson confirmed.
The Stormers boss confirmed Kolbe is attending team meetings and involved in match preparations.
“We can’t wait to have him,” Dobson said, adding: “The Springboks will miss him on the year-end tour,
“He may not have been able to eat rare eland [buck], but he got his rest and is raring to go.
“We are very excited about that.”
Kolbe suffered heavy contact in a defensive tackle inside the 22-meter area at Soccer City, and the nasty injury resulted in him having to consume blended foods through a straw for a two-month recovery period.
However, doctors granted a brief 30-minute window for solid food after the first two weeks before re-locking the jaw.
@JanDKrugby
