Siya Kolisi injury: What you need to know

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi picked up a knee injury at the weekend in his final home match at Kings Park for the Sharks, before he moves to France and joins Racing 92.

Initial reports paint a bleak outlook for the 31-year-old, who some are saying may miss the World Cup in France later this year. The Sharks told The Citizen on Monday night, “Siya has had a scan and is seeing a specialist.”

The incident

The Sharks flanker fell awkwardly after a tackle early in the United Rugby Championship game against Munster at Kings Park on Saturday. While his knee and leg were strapped up by the medical staff and he tried to play on, Kolisi left the field not long after the incident.

He was later seen waving to the fans and thanking them, ahead of his move later this year to France.

The injury

It now appears that the injury is far worse than initially thought and that the 2019 World Cup-winning captain may require surgery on the knee which will rule him out of the game for an extended period.

According to IOL, the 31-year-old has suffered an apparent partial tear to his anterior cruciate ligaments. He has apparently also hurt his meniscus on both sides of the knee.

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Diagnosis

According to the report in IOL, Kolisi has seen two specialists and is set to see a third specialist on Tuesday, in an effort to get the best advice on the way forward. Surgery has been recommended by one specialist, but this route would put Kolisi out of the game for months.

Time out

An operation to re-attach the ligaments and correct the meniscus would result in the rugby star sitting on the sidelines for up to nine months. That would mean his World Cup would be over, as the tournament kicks off in France in early September.

Not undergoing surgery will see Kolisi sidelined for around four months, at best, which will also put his World Cup participation in doubt.

‘Pray for Siya’

According to AFP, an Instagram message by Kolisi’s wife, Rachel, on Monday asked friends and followers to pray with her family, but she did not mention the knee injury.

“Hey friends! Believing for a miracle. Would really appreciate if you could take a minute out (of) your day to pray with us,” wrote Rachel Kolisi.

Captaincy

Kolisi became the Springbok captain in 2018 and became the first black man to lead the national team at the World Cup and win the tournament.

If Kolisi were to be ruled out of action for the year, Handre Pollard could take over the leadership of the team, but there are other candidates, too. Among these is centre Lukhanyo Am, prop Steven Kitshoff, lock Eben Etzebeth and No 8 Duane Vermeulen.