Injury blow to Blitzbokke
Springbok Sevens scrumhalf Branco du Preez underwent corrective surgery at a Bellville hospital on Tuesday and is set to miss the rest of the year because of the injury.
The surgery means Du Preez will miss the opening two tournaments of the Sevens World Series in Dubai and Cape Town, which takes place in December.
The livewire playmaker has been experiencing discomfort from the niggling injury for some time. The player decided that it would be better for him to undergo corrective surgery before the season gets underway, so he can return to action fully fit at the beginning of next year.
The coming Sevens season is the most important one yet, and the busy calendar includes an expanded World Series of ten tournaments and the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Leigh Gordon, the Springbok Sevens team doctor, said the operation went well. “Branco underwent a right shoulder operation to stabilise the shoulder joint. The procedure went smoothly and the surgeons who operated on him are happy with the outcome,” explained Gordon.
The Springbok Sevens training group are currently busy with their pre-season programme at their base camp in Stellenbosch.
Several members of the squad played for the SARU Sevens Academy the past weekend in Windhoek and their next warm-up tournament takes place at the end of October in Singapore.
Jacasport