Cape Town - The Springboks won't be able to call on the services of hooker Schalk Brits during their year-end tour to Europe next month.
Brits sustained a knee ligament injury playing for his English club, Saracens, in their European Champions Cup game at home to Clermont Auvergne at the weekend.
“Schalk is due to have surgery tomorrow (Tuesday) and will then commence rehabilitation with the club’s medical staff," Saracens' Head of Medicine Joe Collins told the club's official website.
Brits is not expected to return well into the New Year.
The 33-year-old made a return to the Springbok set-up earlier this year for the first time since 2012, but found himself down the pecking order, with Adriaan Strauss and Bismarck du Plessis favoured for the Springbok No 2 jersey.
The Springboks will play Tests against Ireland (Dublin, November 8), England (London, November 15), Italy (Padova, November 22) and Wales (Cardiff, November 29).
Brits sustained a knee ligament injury playing for his English club, Saracens, in their European Champions Cup game at home to Clermont Auvergne at the weekend.
“Schalk is due to have surgery tomorrow (Tuesday) and will then commence rehabilitation with the club’s medical staff," Saracens' Head of Medicine Joe Collins told the club's official website.
Brits is not expected to return well into the New Year.
The 33-year-old made a return to the Springbok set-up earlier this year for the first time since 2012, but found himself down the pecking order, with Adriaan Strauss and Bismarck du Plessis favoured for the Springbok No 2 jersey.
The Springboks will play Tests against Ireland (Dublin, November 8), England (London, November 15), Italy (Padova, November 22) and Wales (Cardiff, November 29).