Schalk out of hospital
Veteran Springbok Schalk Burger has been discharged from hospital and sent home to recuperate after being diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.
In a brief statement from his agent, he said he would like to "thank the specialists and hospital staff" who gave Burger excellent care.
"Special thanks from Schalk and Michele to all the family, friends and fans who have sent overwhelming messages of support to the family over this time," the statement said.
Although the latest dispatch from the Burger family did not indicate a timeframe for his return to training or the playing field, an earlier statement suggested it will be "at least another six weeks" before he will be fit for playing.
The family said they are holding out hope that he would be able to make a full recovery and return to the game, despite the severity of his illness.
The 68-times capped Bok has been struggling with injuries for well over a year.
Burger underwent knee surgery last year, after suffering an injury in the opening match of the 2012 Super Rugby season.
After a long struggle to work his way back to full fitness, the Bok veteran strained his calf in training this year and has had a couple of setbacks as he tried to work his way back from the latest injury.
He contracted the bacterial meningitis following an operation to reduce pressure on a nerve that was influencing the performance of his calf muscle
