VIDEO: Stormers' disappointing Moerat update
The Stormers will name their United Rugby Championship captain on Thursday, ahead of the start of the season.
They host defending champions Leinster in a delectable season-opener in Cape Town on Friday.
However, they will have to do so without their Springbok captain and lock stalwart Salmaan Moerat.
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Moerat, who captain the Boks against Italy in July, injured his knee while training with the Stormers last month.
At the time, it was expected that he would be sidelined for between six and eight weeks due to his meniscus (cartilage in the knee) injury.
However, it might be December before he is back in action.
The Stormers will also have to cope without the bulk of their Bok contingent.
Damian Willemse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Cobus Reinach are all on national duty in Durban.
Bok prop Ntuthuko Mchunu, recruited from the Sharks in the off-season, is also still sidelined due to injury.
Even though Moerat, 27, is not available for selection yet, he is continuing his leadership role at the Stormers.
“He spoke to the team as a leader,” Snyman said, adding: “We want to grow players as a leadership group.”
Snyman said they don’t expect Moerat to be back soon.
They have two home games, against Leinster (this Friday) and Ospreys (a week later), to start their URC campaign.
(WATCH as Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman gives an injury update ahead of their URC season-opener against defending champions Leinster…..)
Then there is a three-match tour – to Wales (Scarlets) and Italy (Zebre and Benetton) – in October, before a mid-season break during November’s international season.
“Salmaan [Moerat] and one or two of the other [injured] players might be available after the tour,” he told @rugby365com.
“So we are looking at the end of November or the start of December [for his return].”
Moerat has a history of knee injuries, three of them dating back to 2022, when he tore ligaments in a Champions Cup game against London Irish.
He was sidelined for the better part of a year.
He also missed the 2024 end-of-year Bok tour after knee surgery.
Other serious injuries include a torn chest muscle and a serious bout of concussion.
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