Springbok captain Warren Whiteley suffers new injury
The skipper is now a major doubt for South Africa’s June internationals against Wales and England.
Springbok captain Warren Whiteley suffered an injury on Monday at training. He was originally cleared to go on a four-match Australasian tour with the Johannesburg Lions after recovering from a previous wound.
The No 8 suffered a ligament damage against the Auckland Blues at the start of last month.
According to SArugby, on Monday he felt a ‘click’ in the same knee, and after it swelled up overnight.
'Warren returned to training and while he was running he felt a click in his knee,' Lions team doctor Rob Collins told Sport24 on Wednesday.
'The knee swelled up a bit over night and he doesn't feel comfortable with it. We just want to take a precaution and send him for a scan. He'll see an orthopedic surgeon.'
Bad news
On Wednesday, the Lions confirmed that the skipper would visit an orthopedic surgeon, however the team didn’t receive the good news they had hoped for.
‘Warren Whiteley has not been medically cleared by the Lions Rugby Company medical team and will not join the Lions on tour until he is medically cleared,’ the team said in a statement.
The length of the injury lay-off is still unknown.
Springboks to select new captain
The potential absence of Whiteley will force the Springboks to select a new captain as they begin a new era under the commands of recently appointed coach Rassie Erasmus.
South Africa will play against Wales in Washington in June, before three home tests against England.