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Port Elizabeth - The Southern Kings returned home from their three-week tour of Australia with no new injuries following their historic 26-24 victory over 2014 Super Rugby champions, the Waratahs.
The Port Elizabeth-based side touched down in the Friendly City on Sunday in high spirits and eager to get their preparations for their next assignment underway - an encounter with another Australian side, the Melbourne Rebels, at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday (19:30 kick-off).
The team received a day off on Monday for rest and recovery.
Team doctor, Konrad von Hagen, expressed his relief on Monday that there were no new injury concerns in the squad ahead of the side’s first match back on home soil.
“We are fortunate not to report any injuries from the weekend. The team is fully fit ahead of the next game. The guys are getting some rest before training resumes on Tuesday. We will then also get an opportunity to properly assess our players who are already on the injury list this week,” Von Hagen said.
The team doctor confirmed that flank CJ Velleman is in his final phase of rehabilitation following a long-term knee injury layoff. The hard-working loosie is expected back in action this month and is set to join the rest of the Southern Kings squad at full training after an assessment this week.
It was confirmed last week that wing-cum-fullback, Malcolm Jaer, sustained a medial collateral ligament (knee) strain ahead of the side’s second match on tour, against the Reds, before returning home last week.
Jaer was ruled out of action for four weeks.
The team doctor is pleased with the progress being made by other players on the long-term injury list.
Lock Cameron Lindsay (knee), scrumhalf Rudi van Rooyen (ankle) and season captain and prop, Schalk Ferreira (biceps) are responding well to their rehabilitation.
