The Sharks have provided an update on nine injured players on a list that includes surgery to two Springboks and concerns over two more world champions.
John Plumtree’s team is roughly halfway through a three-week period between games, having beaten Cardiff in Wales on 25 January and scheduled to face the Bulls in Pretoria on 15 February.
In the interim, the Sharks coach has released a medical update on a group of players that includes Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, Andre Esterhuizen and Aphelele Fassi.
Watch: Fassi on road to recovery
| Player | Injury and Status | Return to Play |
| Andre Esterhuizen | Underwent surgery on his knee. Recovery in progress and the knee is healing well. | Undisclosed |
| Aphelele Fassi | Underwent surgery on his ankle. Recovery in progress and the ankle is healing well. | Undisclosed |
| Eben Etzebeth | Suffered a return-of-symptoms of his recent concussion. The Sharks take this injury very seriously and player welfare remains our top priority. Eben is being managed by concussion specialists. He will be cleared to return once they are fully satisfied that his injury has completely resolved. | Undisclosed |
| Emile van Heerden | Underwent surgery on his knee. Recovery in progress and the knee is healing well. | Undisclosed |
| Emmanuel Tshituka | Dislocated big toe. Being managed conservatively and recovery in progress. | Undisclosed |
| Fez Mbatha | Lower limb stress fracture. Being treated conservatively and recovery in progress. | Undisclosed |
| Gerbrandt Grobler | Underwent surgery on his foot. Recovery in progress and the foot is healing well. | Undisclosed |
| James Venter | Tear of chest wall muscle. Being treated conservatively and recovery in progress. | Undisclosed |
| Ox Nche | Tear of upper arm muscle. Being treated conservatively and recovery in progress. | Undisclosed |
The most-capped player in Bok history, Etzebeth has been out since suffering a concussion in the Sharks’ Champions Cup opener against Exeter on 7 December, Esterhuizen and Fassi both broke down in the loss against the Stormers in Cape Town on 28 December, and Nche tore his bicep in the Champions Cup reverse at Bordeaux on 19 January.
ALSO: Sharks lose banned Mapimpi for three SA derbies
And to make matters worse, Bok flyer Makazole Mapimpi was on Tuesday handed a three-match suspension for foul play.
The Sharks are currently fourth on the URC table and facing a run of three highly-attritional derbies in a row, against the Bulls (15 February), and then Lions (1 March – away; 8 March – home).
🚨 INJURY UPDATE 🚨
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— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) February 5, 2025
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