Sadly,Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus is recovering in hospital due to a freak accident

South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus is recovering in hospital after undergoing a medical procedure for chemical burns.

The 51-year-old, who led the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2019 as head coach, sustained the injury in a ‘freak accident using a powerful detergent product’.

Erasmus is expected to be able to return to work fully ‘within weeks’.

A statement from South Africa Rugby said: ‘Rassie Erasmus, SA Rugby’s director of rugby, is recovering in hospital following a medical procedure for chemical burns sustained in a freak accident using a powerful detergent product.

‘He is otherwise in good health and expects to return to full-time working within weeks.’

Erasmus returned to the head coach role with the World Cup winners in November following the departure of Jacques Nienaber for a new role at Irish side Leinster.

Previously serving as the country’s director of rugby, Erasmus will attempt to guide his side to a peerless third consecutive World Cup triumph in 2027.

Erasmus is revered in South Africa for his innovation, tactical acumen and ability to get the best out of the players at his disposal, but he has also courted controversy at times.

He received a lengthy match-day ban from World Rugby for his video criticism of Australian referee Nic Berry following the British & Irish Lions’ defeat in the first test of the 2021 series.

Erasmus has also drawn criticism for his criticism of opponents in social media posts.

The head coach’s social media tweets following South Africa’s loss to France in 2022 earned him a two-match ban.

The social media remarks that were subject to Erasmus’s ban included “engagement with media and social media in relation to match officials.”