The Springboks have just received two massive injury updates, which will come as a timely boost as the 2025 season draws ever closer.
Although the Springboks’ season-opening fixture has yet to be confirmed, it’s expected that they will get things under way with a ‘friendly’ of sorts against the Barbarians in June, before facing off against Italy and Georgia in July.
Quite recently it was thought that No 8 Jasper Wiese and versatile forward Deon Fourie would be joining Elrigh Louw and Trevor Nyakane on the long-term injury list, but there has recently been a change in those circumstances.
In a huge update from Sunday newspaper Rapport, it’s now believed that Wiese could be back before the July internationals if all remains on track with his recovery from a neck injury.
“Hopefully I’ll be ready by mid-June if everything goes well,” the World Cup-winning commented in news that will be music to the ears of the Springbok coaches.
Meanwhile, Fourie took to social media on Thursday to state that his surgery was “done and dusted”, and that he would aim to be back after three months.
“Big thumbs up from the recovery room,” he wrote. “If everything goes well I’ll be back in 12 weeks doing what I love. Grateful for the incredible support around me and everyone’s messages.”
Although it’s not likely that Fourie will form a big part of the Springboks’ planning this season, it does add more options to their back up ranks in the forward pack.
SPRINGBOKS’ 2025 TEST SCHEDULE:
TBC: vs Barbarians, TBC, TBC
5 July: vs Italy, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
12 July: vs Italy, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
19 July: vs Georgia, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
16 August: vs Australia, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
23 August: vs Australia, DHL Stadium, Cape Town
6 September: vs New Zealand, Auckland
13 September: vs New Zealand, Wellington
27 September: vs Argentina, Kings Park, Durban
4 October: vs Argentina, London
1 November: vs Wales, Cardiff
8 November: vs France, Paris
15 November: vs Italy, Turin
22 November: vs Ireland, Dublin
*SA Rugby are working on adding two more Tests for the Springboks, likely to be against Japan and Portugal
