Springbok star hit by 2025 injury scare – Doubtful for the year
His versatile skills have captivated Rassie Erasmus, who handed the Paarl Boy native his Springbok debut last year, a player who has been tipped as one of South Africa's next best talents. The green and gold's new star.
The Bulls enforcer was forced off during his side's URC semi-final victory over Siya Kolisi's Sharks on Saturday and was later spotted sporting crutches on the sideline over what is believed to be a hamstring injury, ruling him out for the foreseeable future.
A further assessment awaits, which will determine his recovery time, and whether he will be available for the Springboks this year; there's a chance he returns in August, while the worst case scenario has him ruled out for several months.
We wish you a speedy recovery, Hanekom.
Former Springbok coach, now Bulls boss Jake White provided the latest update regarding the Springbok youngster's injury, saying, 'He's just having a sonar (scan) now. Obviously he's very upset, that's natural. But I said to his parents now that we forget he's just 21,'
'When I started coaching, 21 year old forwards weren't invited to Northern Transvaal training. And if they were it was really to be cannon fodder for the old men to bash them on a Monday night (in training).'
'So he's obviously jumped the queue because he's so talented, and he feels a bit down now. But we mustn't forget he's just 21 years old, and there's still a lot of rugby that he's going to be involved in over the next few years.'
'When it is swollen and there's blood (in the injury), you can't really see (how bad it is). They had a look and he won't play next week, that I can tell you. He thinks he can. He said he might go to the same doctor (Johan) Goosen went to (after a recent knee injury that also looked very serious),' he said.
'But I can't see it. He can't travel with that injury. I'm hoping for his sake it's like Goosen, a short-term rather than a long-term injury.'
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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