VIDEO: Confirmed - massive leadership blow for Bulls

INJURY UPDATE: The Bulls have lost one of their key players, most likely for the rest of the season.

Bulls Director of Rugby gave a concerning injury update ahead of his team’s United Rugby Championship crunch encounter with defending champions Munster in Pretoria on Saturday.

Seasoned Springbok and co-captain Marcell Coetzee is one of the players White alluded to who underwent surgery while the Bulls were away on European duty – a humbling 22-59 loss to Northampton Saints in a Champions Cup quarterfinal.

White said the surgery revealed that Coetzee’s knee injury was more serious than first thought and he “probably won’t play for the rest of the season”.

“That is a massive loss for us,” the Director of Rugby said.

Injured co-captain Ruan Nortje is ‘not too far away’ from returning after being sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Marco van Staden also misses the Munster outing on Saturday, with a knee injury he suffered against Leinster last month.

However, he could return by next week.

“We should be okay in the next few weeks, with Nortje and Van Staden [returning],” he said.

(WATCH as Jake White gives his injury update and the consequences…)

That leaves them with a very young pack in the crunch encounter with Munster.

Lock JF van Heerden is 19, flanks Cameron Hanekom is (21) and Reinhardt Ludwig (21) are also barely out of the junior ranks.

No.8 Elrigh Louw, at 24, is captaining the team.

“It is a young, but exciting combination.

“It is a combination that I am looking forward to seeing.

“The combination has everything – skill, height, pace and youth – which comes with energy.”

@king365ed
@rugby365com

Captain Ruan Nortje showed incredible fighting spirit after suffering a hamstring injury vs Connacht, to get back to his feet and continue playing 💪

He discusses this incredible moment and his mentality, here 🐂#BackTheBulls @Vodacom pic.twitter.com/HVuEm0aVfj

— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) January 10, 2024