The Sharks could be without Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi for the remainder of the season, according to head coach John Plumtree.
Mbonambi was forced off the field in the opening minutes of the Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand and now looks set to spend a long time on the bench.
This is the second time the hooker has been injured in the first half of a final after suffering a concussion against England in 2019.
Sharks without Mbonambi Springboks have now completed their title tour themselves, return to South Africa after successfully defending their World Cup title in France and are expected to mark their return to the franchise in December.
However, the Sharks boss , John Plumtree has revealed that Mbonambi and supporter Vincent Koch will not return immediately.
“Well, I guess the bottom line for me is hope they’re alert so I know what injuries they have,” Plumtree joked to reporters when asked if he had come into contact with the Bok players mine and how they feel.
“Just kidding, as far as I know our only real injuries are Bongi and Vincent Koch, both of whom have knee injuries.
“Vincent will be back in three months and Bongi will be out a little longer – unfortunately, this could be the season.
” It was a huge blow for the Sharks, who had a poor start to the season under the new head coach, losing their opening four matches.
Scotland international Dylan Richardson has returned to the hooker position from the third row in Mbonambi’s absence this season, although the team have other options in Danie Jooste, Kerron van Vuuren and Fez Mbatha.
Get their Springboks back “The others are ready to go,” Plumtree added.
“Eben [Etzebeth] is looking forward to it and I leave them alone because it’s really important that they don’t get a call from me because they don’t want to hear from me yet, but next week they will hear from I.
“So we’re going to reintegrate them and see where they are individually, and I think it’s not just physically but emotionally, you know, getting off the plateau and becoming re-merger or a franchise or a club, there will always be a number, they will all be different emotionally, so we will have to find out how they feel and that too can decide how we reintegrate them.
» The Sharks are looking for their first win this season when they host Irish province Connacht in their first home game of the URC 2023 campaign/ 24.
They will likely have Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Etzebeth, Grant Williams and Jaden Hendrikse available for December’s game against the Bulls and their upcoming Challenge Cup clash.
