Pretoria - Bulls loose forward Deon Stegmann will return to the playing field and be available for selection next week, team doctor Org Strauss confirmed on Tuesday.
Stegmann, 28, is in the final stage of recovery following a groin operation.
This means Stegmann would still not be available for the Bulls' clash against the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday, but only for their final league game against the Rebels the following week.
While his departure from the long-term injury list was good news, not so the new arrivals in Flip van der Merwe and Jacques du Plessis.
Van der Merwe injured his knee whilst on Springbok duty and was ruled out for six months, while Du Plessis broke his jaw in a warm-up match against Namibia. He has been ruled out for at least five weeks.
The rest of the players on the mend are: Tian Schoeman (ankle, 6-8 weeks), Pierre Spies (bicep tear, 4-5 months), Arno Botha (knee surgery, 4-5 months), Frik Kirsten (neck surgery, 4 months), Jaco Visagie (knee surgery, 3-4 months), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (ankle, 4-5 weeks).
Travis Ismaiel (finger dislocation) will train next week, whilst Waylon Murray (ankle) will train on Thursday.
Stegmann, 28, is in the final stage of recovery following a groin operation.
This means Stegmann would still not be available for the Bulls' clash against the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday, but only for their final league game against the Rebels the following week.
While his departure from the long-term injury list was good news, not so the new arrivals in Flip van der Merwe and Jacques du Plessis.
Van der Merwe injured his knee whilst on Springbok duty and was ruled out for six months, while Du Plessis broke his jaw in a warm-up match against Namibia. He has been ruled out for at least five weeks.
The rest of the players on the mend are: Tian Schoeman (ankle, 6-8 weeks), Pierre Spies (bicep tear, 4-5 months), Arno Botha (knee surgery, 4-5 months), Frik Kirsten (neck surgery, 4 months), Jaco Visagie (knee surgery, 3-4 months), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (ankle, 4-5 weeks).
Travis Ismaiel (finger dislocation) will train next week, whilst Waylon Murray (ankle) will train on Thursday.