South African Rugby
Bekker to miss World Cup
ESPNscrum Staff
July 22, 2011
South Africa lock Andries Bekker prepares to pass during the Captain's Run, Wesptac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand, July 16, 2010
Bekker will not add to his 24 Test caps following the news he will undergo surgery © Getty Images
Enlarge
Related Links
Players/Officials: Andries Bekker | Johann Muller
Tournaments/Tours: Tri Nations

South Africa have received a huge blow ahead of the Rugby World Cup with the news that lock Andries Bekker has been ruled out of contention.

The 27-year-old second-row will undergo ankle surgery on Tuesday in Cape Town following an injury sustained during the Super Rugby season. Bekker was omitted from Peter de Villiers' squad for the away leg of the Tri-Nations - along with 20 others - due to the injury and Springboks' doctor Craig Roberts confirmed the prognosis on Friday.

"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 said. "He ruptured an ankle tendon during the Super Rugby season."

The lock was expected to play second fiddle to second-row mainstays Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha come the World Cup, but his experience would have been a boost for the Boks during the gruelling competition.

Meanwhile, South Africa received another setback on Friday with the news that Ulster lock Johann Muller has been ruled out of their away leg in the Tri-Nations due to a hamstring strain. The 31-year-old was originally named in the Springboks team to face Australia on Saturday but has since returned to South Africa. A replacement will be announced in due course.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices