Bok prop Redelinghuys faces neck surgery

Redelinghuys was stretchered off the field in the 44th minute of the Free State Cheetahs' 55-17 demolitions of the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup semifinal in Bloemfontein.

The Bok No.3 twisted his neck badly in a collision with Cheetahs hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld.

Lions team doctor Rob Collins confirmed that Redelinghuys sustained a "dislocation" of his neck at the C5/6 level during the game.

"He has minimal temporary weakness of his left arm," Collins said.

"He is in traction at a Bloemfontein hospital and will go to surgery tomorrow [Sunday] morning to reduce the dislocation and stabilise it."

The Lions doctor said the Bok prop is expected to make a "full recovery".

However, there was no time frame on his possible return to the game.

Earlier reports from Bloemfontein suggested there were "some level of paralyses" and that he had little or no feeling in his limbs as he was carried off the field.

However, South Africa will heave a collective sigh of relief over the news that the Bok prop will make a full recovery.

@rugby365com