Springboks’ bad luck on injury front continues: One rugby star is out for months!
The Springboks face an anxious wait on the availability of Kwagga Smith for their July Tests, after the star loose forward was ruled out for five months.
Smith is the captain of Japanese League One team Shizuoka Blue Revs, who announced on Friday that the Springbok had suffered an adductor tendon rupture on 13 January in their league match against Suntory Sungoliath.
Smith, 30, will be out for at least five months, according to the Blue Revs, which has put him under pressure to recover in time for the Springboks’ three mid-year Test matches against Ireland and Portugal in July.
Following the announcement that Smith’s colleagues Jesse Kriel (thumb) and Faf de Klerk (knee) had also been sidelined following surgery for injuries received in Japan, this news deals a further damage to the Springboks’ playing ranks.
Having been a part of both Springbok teams that won the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan in 2019 and France in 2023, all three have won the World Cup twice.
SPRINGBOKS LOSE STAR LOOSE FORWARD KWAGGA SMITH
SPRINGBOKS TEST SCHEDULE FOR 2024
| Opponent | Date | Venue | Competition |
| Ireland | 6 July | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | Incoming mid-year tour |
| Ireland | 13 July | Kings Park, Durban | Incoming mid-year tour |
| Portugal | 20 July | TBC | Incoming mid-year tour |
| All Blacks | 31 August | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | Rugby Championship |
| All Blacks | 7 September | DHL Stadium, Cape Town | Rugby Championship |
| Argentina | 28 September | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit | Rugby Championship |
