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Sharks coach reveals Eben Etzebeth's latest setback

By Annemie Bester
Thursday 20 Mar 2025

AUDIO: Sharks coach John Plumtree has delivered the news on Eben Etzebeth’s latest injury while two more Springboks still wait to return to action.

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The Sharks host Zebre in the United Rugby Championship at Kings Park on Saturday but will have to do so without the world’s best lock, while scrumhalf Grant Williams and fullback Aphelele Fassi are also ruled out through injury.

The 33-year-old Etzebeth has been on the sidelines since December after he sustained a head injury during the Sharks’ Champions Cup victory over Exeter Chiefs.

Since then, the towering lock has been battling concussion with his return being regularly delayed due to the symptoms returning.

*Article continues below…

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The good news is that the Springbok locks’ concussion is over but the bad news is that he sustained a hamstring injury during the alignment camp in Cape Town.

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“Eben strained a hamstring in a running block that he did in Cape Town, so that set him back a couple of weeks.

“But from a concussion point of view, he is in a good place now,” Plumtree revealed.

*Read the Sharks team announcement HERE

“So good news for him, but frustrating for him with the hamstring but that’s life.

“We just have to wait for him and it won’t be long.”

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Both Fassie and Williams will be out short-term (two to three weeks) with the latter having been struggling with a neck issue for the last few games he was involved in.

“Grant has got an issue with his neck.

“It should only be two or three weeks. He sort of played with it through the Lions series and before that.

“It is nothing significant but it needs some time,” Plumtree commented.

Fassi injured his ankle at the end of 2024 and has been working hard to get back on the pitch.

“Fassi is about three weeks away and he is going really well. He will start integrating with the team training soon,” the coach explained.

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