A key Springbok is in a race to be fit for the 2026 Test season.
Flank Pieter-Steph du Toit is set for another spell on the sidelines after his Japanese club the Toyota Verblitz confirmed he will return to South Africa to undergo surgery.
The club said Du Toit has suffered a long-term injury, with the exact nature of the setback not disclosed. The two-time World Rugby Player of the Year will head home for an operation, and his registration in Japan Rugby League One has been suspended.
“It can be confirmed that Pieter-Steph will be out for an extended period. He will undergo surgery in South Africa and his registration for the league has therefore been suspended,” the club said in a statement.
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The news is a significant blow for both club and country. Du Toit had only recently returned to action, featuring in the Verblitz’s match against the Honda Heat on 13 December – his first club appearance in 587 days – after missing the entire previous Japanese season with a serious shoulder injury.
The Verblitz have endured a difficult campaign and currently sit 10th on the league table, with just one win from their opening five matches. The side is coached by former All Blacks boss Ian Foster, with Steve Hansen serving as director of rugby.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will be hoping the 31-year-old forward can recover in time for the mid-year internationals, as the world champions prepare for a demanding Test schedule, which includes the new Nations Championship and the four-Test Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks.
Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
