Injury forces out Springboks’ Andries Bekker from 2011 Rugby World Cup
Springboks 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) campaign suffered a setback as their first choice second row forward Andries Bekker has been ruled out from the upcoming mega event. South African Rugby Union (SARU) has confirmed the omission of Bekker from the squad
in a statement released on their website on Friday, July 22.
Bekker was one of the 21 players that had earlier been declared by SARU as unfit for their 2011 Tri Nations’ away leg matches. Bekker had hurt his ankle during the 2011 Super Rugby season. The Stormers lock sustained an injury to the ankle tendon during
the competition, which has failed to recover in time for the Tri Nations.
Springboks’ team doctor, Dr. Craig Robert, confirmed that Bekker will undergo surgery on his ankle after he underwent further investigation.
Dr. Robert added, “We have sought a number of expert opinions over the past two weeks and the decision was taken that Andries required surgery now to safeguard his long-term rugby career.” He confirmed that the surgery will be performed on Bekker at the
team’s medical institute at Cape Town, on Tuesday, July 26.
Cape Town born Bekker started his professional ruby union career with SARU’s provincial state side Western Provinces in 2004. He has played 37 games for Western Provinces and scored 55 points.
At the age of 22, Bekker made his Super Rugby debut for the Stormers in the 2005 Super Rugby season. He has made 62 super rugby appearances for the Stormers and has scored 45 points.
Bekker was expected to be a part of Peter de Villiers’s Springboks final 30-man squad for their 2011 RWC campaign. He was included in the squad to give cover to the Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha in the second row.
The 27-year-old Bekker, made his international debut for the South African national rugby union team in 2008 against the touring Wales team. He has played 24 international games for Springboks to date and has a try to his name.
In other news, the Springboks are still waiting on another injured lock, Johann Muller. The lock is currently rehabilitating from a hamstring injury even though he was part of the Springboks’ squad for their first two scheduled matches of the 2011 Tri Nations
tournament. However, later he was sent home, ahead of their Saturday, July 23 encounter against the Wallabies.
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