Lock crisis looming for Stormers following hard man's setback
INJURY UPDATE: The Stormers could be facing a second-row crisis after an injury to one of their consistent performers.
Lock Ruben van Heerden is set to be sidelined for three months following thumb surgery, according to Netwerk24.
Van Heerden posted a picture from his hospital bed on social media platform Instagram following the procedure, confirming that it went well.
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This setback leaves John Dobson’s team in a bit of a pickle in the second row department following Salmaan Moerat being sidelined for four months as well, following a turf toe injury suffered against the Sharks a fortnight ago.
The Stormers have JD Schickerling and Adre Smith as regular starters alongside Alex Groves, Gary Porter and utility forwards Connor Evans and Ben-Jason Dixon, but another injury to any of those players will reach crisis mode.
A bolter in Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton is also an option, but very unlikely given his limited game time during the 2025 Currie Cup and not being exposed at United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup level as of yet and also his current involvement in the Junior National set-up preparing for their title defence in Georgia.