Springboks duo Canan Moodie and Steven Kitshoff will mark their respective returns from injury this weekend in the Currie Cup, ahead of a possible return to the national side during the Rugby Championship. 

Bulls utility back Moodie, 21, picked up a hand injury in early June and underwent surgery not long after. The injury ruled him out of the United Rugby Championship final too, which the Bulls lost 21-16 to Glasgow Warriors.

Moodie has been named in the Bulls starting line-up for their clash with the Cheetahs this weekend.

“It’s nice to welcome Canan back, he’s been out injured for a while now so he’s quite keen to get going,” Bulls head coach Phiwe Nomlomo said on his return.

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“We’re looking forward to seeing him on the wing this weekend. The wealth of knowledge that Canan will bring is immense, and we’ve seen some of that at training this week in the micro-details.”

He added: “The whole team sort of grows an extra leg because we’ve got the likes of Canan coming back.”

Moodie was set to play some part in the Springboks’ Test series against Ireland, but he could return to Rassie Erasmus‘ side for the Rugby Championship.

Kitshoff to get much-needed game time ahead of Springbok return

Elsewhere, prop Steven Kitshoff could be set for a return to action this weekend as well.

Planet Rugby understands he is back training with Western Province ahead of their Currie Cup match against the Griffons this weekend, but the club are yet to confirm their starting XV at the time of writing.

The loosehead picked up a serious knee injury during his spell at Ulster, and hasn’t featured since April.

The double World Cup winner has been an integral part of the Springboks’ recent success, but with such a limited amount of game time heading into the Rugby Championship, head coach Erasmus feels he needs some minutes in the Currie Cup before returning to his squad.

“Kitsie needs to play some rugby now,” Erasmus said. “He is ready to play, but he needs to get some game time now…

“We don’t want to take an unfit Kitsie and a Malcolm [Marx] who’s [injury is still] dodgy and that is why Jan-Hendrik Wessels can cover prop and hooker and certainly makes more sense.”

Kitshoff has won 83 caps in the Green and Gold since his debut in 2016.