Springbok Cameron Hanekom’s long awaited comeback could be within weeks with the Bulls targeting their game against Cardiff on March 19 for his first run in several months.
Hanekom, who has played just one test for the Springboks and was desperately unlucky to be injured in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship semifinal back in June last year, was targeting a comeback in December which never realised.
He tore his hamstring in the semifinal against the Hollywoodbets Sharks and with the injury being so serious, it was always going to be handled conservatively. While Hanekom was itching to get back on the field, the medical team was taking it slow and managing a few setbacks that came along the way.
Coach Johan Ackermann was not keen to say when Hanekom would be back, given the difficulty of a hamstring injury, but said the Bok will hopefully be back within weeks.
“I was nervous to put a timeline to it, but I think we will probably work towards Cardiff or Munster to see Cameron, somewhere around that period,” Ackermann explained.
“That’s the earliest I think. His rehab has obviously been up and down. The last couple of weeks have really gone well. Now it’s just to build up his endurance, build up his contact and the rugby side of things. That’s the part we don’t want to rush now, so close to the finish line.
“Next week is not ideal, it’s a rugby week that we lose with the guys going to the alignment camp, and they are not in our hands. The week after that is probably the week that we must progress the build-up to a rugby contact.
“That’s why I say if we want to be realistic, probably around Cardiff.”
Hanekom has been invited to the Springbok alignment camp despite not being in action this season, underlining how the Bok management rates him.