South African Rugby
Beast hospitalised with heart condition
ESPNscrum Staff
February 28, 2012
South Africa's Tendai Mtawarira spins the ball on, South Africa training, Northwood High School, Durban, South Africa, August 9, 2011
Front-row Beast is in hospital receiving treatment © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Tendai Mtawarira
Tournaments/Tours: Super Rugby
Teams: Sharks | South Africa

The Sharks have confirmed that their Springboks prop Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira is currently receiving treatment for a heart condition in hospital.

The 26-year-old is currently sidelined with a fractured ankle and has suffered with heart palpitations in the past. And he is now in hospital with a view to getting the problem sorted once and for all.

"It's not the first time it's happening to him," Sharks doctor Ewoudt van der Linde told Sport24. "Beast has been struggling with the condition for quite some time and because he is recovering from his ankle injury, we thought it would be the opportune time to send him to Cape Town for treatment."

And Van der Linde moved to alleviate concerns over the front-row's long-term health saying the decision to move him to Cape Town - instead of Durban - was so that he could receive the best facilities available.

"They have a new procedure where the heart is treated with lasers," he said. "Hopefully it will solve his problem.

"There is a family history and the condition is hereditary. But it is not so serious. It's nothing new and has happened many times in matches before. Beast is used to it already. This is not the first and also not the last time it will happen."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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