Eben Etzebeth’s return to rugby after being suspended for the eye-gouging incident playing for the Springboks against Wales in November has been short-lived.
The most capped Bok was conspicuous by his absence from the 28-man tour squad the Sharks named on Tuesday for the two match Vodacom URC tour in which they face the Ospeys in Swansea on Saturday and then Edinburgh in the Scottish capital next Friday.
Etzebeth returned to rugby in the Sharks’ recent loss to Connacht in Galway in their EPCR Challenge Cup round of 16 clash but is understood to have sustained a hip injury that will keep him sidelined for two months.
That will be enough time to be available for South Africa’s first ever Nations Cup match against England in Johannesburg at the start of July, and possibly even the non-international against the Barbarians in Gqeberha a fortnight before that that starts the Boks’ 2026 international season.
But he will not be playing again for the Sharks in the URC.
And in a further big blow to the Durban team’s hopes of sneaking into the top eight in the URC and thus making it into the playoffs and qualifying for next season’s Investec Champions Cup, it is also understood that the Sharks will be without three additional Boks for the rest of their campaign.
Our squad heading to Wales 🏴 and Scotland 🏴@vodacom #urc pic.twitter.com/ilAYIdi5LN
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) April 14, 2026
Jordan Hendrikse was not in the touring squad that was named or in the list of injured players that was released by the Sharks, but the first choice flyhalf is apparently out for the rest of the club season, and ditto Bongi Mbonambi and Grant Williams.
With Williams due to play in Japan next season, the Bok scrumhalf may have played his last game for the Sharks.
Bok fullbck Aphelele Fassi is not in the touring group but he is expected to return from injury for the home games against the Italian teams, Benetton and Zebre, in May, but on this trip the Sharks will also be without his exciting back-up, the 19-year-old new sensation Luan Giliomee, who is among the injured players listed by the Sharks on Tuesday.
With Hakeem Kunene, the next fullback on the roster, and Jaco Williams, who has played fullback for the Sharks, also out injured, Sharks coach JP Pietersen has called up SA Schools fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya to plug what has now become a huge hole until Fassi makes his return.
SHARKS CAPTAIN AND BOK SKIPPER BACK
On the positive side of the balance sheet the Sharks are boosted by the return of regular captain Andre Esterhuizen, who does make a big difference when he plays, as well as Bok skipper Siya Kolisi, who is into his last few weeks as a Sharks player before he rejoins the Stormers during the off-season.
Esterhuizen and Kolisi will add experience to the group, and Jurenzo Julius and Manu Tshituka are also coming back to add some staunchness to the group, but the long list of injuries has come at the wrong time as the Sharks, seven points off a top eight place currently, effectively need to win all their remaining games if they are to have any chance of hitting target by finishing in the top half of the log.
The two Italian teams shouldn’t be too much of a problem for them at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on current form but a less than full strength Sharks team could struggle in Swansea and Edinburgh.
HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS TOURING SQUAD:
Backs: Andre Esterhuizen, Bradley Davids, Edwill van der Merwe, Ethan Hooker, Jaden Hendrikse, Jean Smith, Jurenzo Julius, Le Roux Malan, Makazole Mapimpi, Ross Braude, Siya Masuku, Zelkhethelo Siyaya.
Forwards: Corne Rahl, Eduan Swart, Emile van Heerden, Fez Mbatha, Hanro Jacobs, Jason Jenkins, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Manu Tshituka, Nick Hatton, Ox Nche, Phatu Ganyane, Phepsi Buthelezi, Siya Kolisi, Vincent Koch, Vincent Tshituka, Willem van den Heever.
Players not considered due to injury: Aphelele Fassi, Bongi Mbonambi, Bryce Calvert, Coetzee le Roux, Eben Etzebeth, Francois Venter, Grant Williams, Hakeem Kunene, Jaco Williams, Luan Gilliomee, Marvin Orie, Matt Ramao, Ruan Dreyer, Simphiwe Matanzima, Thomas Dyer, Trevor Nyakane, Yaw Penxe. (Jordan Hendrikse was not on the injured list released but is understood to be out for the rest of the season.)