Boks boosted by return of World Cup-winning lock Lood de Jager

The 2019 World Cup winner - who went under the knife in January for a hip issue -  has been named in the Saitama Wild Knights team for their third-place playoff in Japan Rugby League One on Saturday.

It is welcome news for the Springboks. The World Champions currently have a plethora of players sidelined due to injury, including several key figures in the lock and loose forward positions. RG Snyman is out for the season, Jean Kleyn is not expected to be available until mid-July and Eben Etzebeth is currently under an injury cloud, having not played since 3 April.

The uncapped Ruan Venter was touted for a run in the Bok jersey this season, but is out for the season, while the versatile Kwagga Smith is also sidelined until 2027.

De Jager added seven caps to his international tally last season, featuring in the Boks' record-breaking win over the All lacks in Wellington and then later against France on the end of year tour.

The 33-year-old will be hoping to put a difficult few years behind him. A hero of South Africa's triumphant 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign, de Jager was set to feature at the 2023 global showpiece before being ruled out at the 11th hour due to a heart condition.

After being medically cleared, de Jager returned to Japan League One action with the Wild Knights in December 2023, only to suffer a further blow when he tore his rotator cuff muscle off the bone in June of 2024. Surgery and several months of rehabilitation followed before he finally returned to action in January 2025.

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