Another Bok lock goes down with injury

NEWS: South Africa has lost a third World Cup-winning lock to injury ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour.

Eben Etzebeth will be sidelined for "many weeks", after surgery on a finger injury suffered in training last week, his French club Toulon said on Tuesday.

Etzebeth, 29, last played in a heavy Top 14 defeat away to Lyon on March 27.

His club have not played since.

Their European Champions Cup last-16 match away to Leinster on April 2 was cancelled because of a COVID-19 case in the Toulon squad.

"Eben Etzebeth has undergone surgery in the last few days." the three-time European champions said.

Etzebeth's Springboks are set to host the British and Irish Lions in July and August.

The Lions' first tour match is against the Stormers in Cape Town on July 3 - with the first Test scheduled for July 24, in Johannesburg.

The two other locks currently in doubt for the Test series are Sale Sharks player Lodewyk de Jager (fractured leg in training) and Munster's Rudolph Snyman (knee surgery).

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* Meanwhile Toulon said that another lock, Matthias Halagahu, also faces a spell on the sidelines with a shoulder issue.

"The two Toulon second-rows will be absent for many weeks," they added.

Toulon's continued COVID-19 issues have forced the postponement of their game at Montpellier on Saturday.

They are seventh in the Top 14, behind Lyon in the final playoff spot on points difference. There are six games of the regular season to play.

A third Toulon lock, former Samoa under-20 international Brian Alainu'uese, is also out injured, RMC Sport reported, adding that the club are trying to bring an additional player into their squad.