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Springbok and Stormers fullback Warrick Gelant could miss next year’s British & Irish Lions series after sustaining a knee ligament injury.
A Western Province source confirmed that Gelant tore his ACL during the team’s loss to the Vodacom Bulls in Newlands last Saturday.
Western Province is still waiting for more updates from its team physician on how long Gelant could be off duty, but reports suggest he could be out for up to nine months.
Not only would this keep him out for the remainder of the domestic season, it would almost certainly exclude him from any involvement in the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021.
The injury will be a blow to Gelant, who was just beginning to play some of the best rugby in his career after switching to the Bulls’ Stormers during the Covid-19 lockdown in South Africa.
The 25-year-old finished Super Rugby Unlocked with 50 carries (second place), 19 defenders defeated (first place), 265 meters scored (fourth place) and 15 discharges (first place) when the Stormers finished the tournament in second place.
He is the fourth World Cup winner Springbok to suffer a long-lasting injury, joining Handre Pollard and blocking Lood de Jager and RG Snyman on the bench.
Western Province will now have to make a decision as a fullback. Wings Leolin Zas and Sergeal Petersen can play there, as can Tim Swiel, who has been used primarily from the bench in the air. Province could also trade Damian Willemse back to fullback, despite maintaining its commitment to furthering his development as a flyhlf this year, while also supporting Tristan Leyds, 23, or Kade Wolhuter, 19.
Photo: Shaun Roy / BackpagePix
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