Spies out of end-of-year tour
Springbok eighthman Pierre Spies will not recover from injury in time for the end-of-year tour of Europe.
Spies, who was ruled out of the Rugby Championship with a finger injury, underwent successful surgery in August and has been on a rehabilitation programme and running at Loftus since.
However, the Bulls captain on Thursday confirmed that he will be sidelined for the remainder of the year.
“I was hoping to [play again this year], but the finger is healing slowly, so next year is more likely,” Spies told the SuperSport website.
Spies’ injury sparked a selection dilemma for Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer prior to the start of the Rugby Championship with the experienced Ryan Kankowski also unavailable due to his departure to Japan.
Meyer gave Sharks duo Keegan Daniel and Willem Alberts a chance at number eight before calling up and sticking with fit-again Western Province eighthman Duane Vermeulen.
