Pollard to return 'soon'

INJURY UPDATE: South Africa's World Cup winner Handre Pollard is set to return from injury in the coming weeks.

He has been sidelined for almost seven months.

Pollard, 27, who last played for the Springboks in the 2019 World Cup Final, has been out since September with a serious knee injury after making just two appearances this season.

Last week, Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber said Pollard could be back by next month and he will be fit to face the British and Irish Lions in July and August.

"He's advancing well," his Montpellier coach Philippe Saint-Andre said on Thursday.

"He's on the training field with us as normal.

"He should be with us on a match sheet very soon," Saint-Andre added.

"We're doing everything we can so Handre can be available as quickly as possible. We're not taking any risks, but he's feeling good."

This weekend, Saint-Andre's side head to Bordeaux-Begles and are four points above Pau in the relegation play-off spot.

Next week, they head to Bath in the European Challenge Cup semifinal.

The Lions start their tour of South Africa in July before three Test matches finishing on August 7.