Sharks provide further update on Eben Etzebeth situation

The Hollywoodbets Sharks have provided a further update on Eben Etzebeth after initially listing the Springbok lock among their injured players ahead of their three-match European trip.

JP Pietersen’s side named a 28-man squad on Wednesday for their Challenge Cup opener against Lyon, followed by United Rugby Championship fixtures away to Cardiff and Munster.

Etzebeth was absent from that travelling group, with the Sharks stating that the 147-cap lock had suffered a “lower limb injury” and was awaiting further medical examination after leaving the first half of last weekend’s 39-22 defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town with what appeared to be a knee problem.

However, the Durban side later confirmed on social media that Etzebeth will join the squad in week two alongside Andre Esterhuizen, Ox Nche, Thomas du Toit, Ethan Hooker and Edwill van der Merwe.

That means all six will miss the meeting with Lyon but are due to link up with the squad ahead of the URC matches against Cardiff and Munster, with the Sharks currently fifth in the table.

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Etzebeth’s inclusion offers some encouragement over the severity of the injury, although the Sharks are yet to provide an official medical update and his involvement could still be provisional.

The 34-year-old has carried a particularly heavy workload in recent weeks following Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series against New Zealand.

He was also one of only two Sharks, alongside Hooker, to start the fourth Test against the All Blacks before facing Australia in Perth two weeks later, making a period of rest particularly timely.

The other five Springboks had already been earmarked for mandatory leave following a gruelling international schedule.

Pietersen will meanwhile select his side for Saturday’s trip to Lyon from the original 28-man travelling party before reinforcements arrive for week two for the final two matches of the tour.