Concussed Cloete sidelined for Kings

Cape Town - The Southern Kings will be without the influential Chris Cloete this weekend when they take on the Brumbies in a Super Rugby encounter at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. 

The flanker has been one of the key members in the Southern Kings side this season with some consistent performances, but was unfortunate to sustain a concussion in the weekend’s 35-32 victory over the Sharks in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. 

In adhering to the World Rugby concussion protocol, Cloete will be rested and not made available for selection this week for the Brumbies clash before going through the return-to-play protocol next week before he is made available ahead of the Southern Kings’ trip to Johannesburg where they will face the Lions. 

The Southern Kings were dealt a further blow with a hamstring injury to fullback, Masixole Banda. The nippy fullback will undergo scans this week to ascertain the extent of the injury. Team doctor, Konrad von Hagen, indicated that the 28-year-old would be unlikely to face the Brumbies this weekend. 

After making good progress in his recovery from a long-term knee injury sustained last season, flanker CJ Velleman received a setback when he damaged the same knee at training last week. 

The 22-year-old will require surgery on the injured knee, Von Hagen confirmed. 

On a positive side, the team doctor confirmed that prop, Justin Forwood, underwent a successful operation on Monday on the knee he injured in the Southern Kings’ win over the Melbourne Rebels late last month. 

The 23-year-old will be out of action for nine months. 

Ruaan Lerm, who has been nursing an ankle injury is back at training this week and a decision on his availability for selection will be made later in the week. 

Von Hagen is also pleased with the progress that is being made by Malcolm Jaer, who has been out of action since midway through the team’s Australian tour where he injured his knee. 

The team doctor is also happy with the recovery of scrumhalf Rudi van Rooyen (ankle), lock Cameron Lindsay (knee) and prop Schalk Ferreira (biceps).