VIDEO: Moerat blow for WP

REACTION: Western Province head coach John Dobson confirmed that Salmaan Moerat faces a lengthy injury lay-off.

The lock will be out of action for two to three months, following neck surgery.

Moerat, who was appointed the Stormers' vice-captain earlier in the year, missed the Rainbow Cup after he sustained a neck injury in training - two weeks before the competition started.

He will now be sidelined for the entire Currie Cup season.

The Stormers are hoping the lock will return for the United Rugby Championship in September.

"He [Moerat] underwent surgery, which will put him out for two or three months," Dobson told reporters during a virtual media briefing.

"It's a blow for him, given that he was in the national mix and attended the Springboks alignment camps.

"It is a massive blow for the team,.

"We would have been better with Moerat and JD Schickerling as the second row pair and Ernst van Rhyn could be part of the loose trio.

"Nonetheless, we have done great in their absence."

He added: "The surgery now guarantee his return to the field in time for the United Rugby Championship [in September],"

Meanwhile, Dobson said that Juan De Jongh will not feature in Wednesday's Currie Cup match against Griquas.

De Jongh returned to Western Province from the English Premiership side Wasps.

The Springbok midfielder De Jongh lifted the Currie Cup at Newlands in 2014, has 97 Stormers caps and played 59 times for Western Province before moving to Wasps in 2017.

The 33-year-old was named on the extended replacements bench for the Griquas encounter after not having played for WP since 2016

However, head coach John Dobson revealed fans would have to wait a little bit longer for the much-anticipated return.

"It is highly unlikely that De Jongh will be on the bench against Griquas," Dobson said.

"We wanted to give him 10 to 20 minutes to get him ready for the British and Irish Lions [on July 17].

"However with Nama Xaba and JD Schickerling both returning from long-term injury, we have opted to for a 6-2 split on the bench which means De Jongh will miss out,"