Lood set to return for Bulls

Springbok lock Lood de Jager looks set to make his long-awaited return to the field this weekend for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in their Currie Cup opener against DHL Western Province at Newlands.

De Jager, who injured his shoulder in the second game of the tournament against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires, was meant to captain the Bulls in Vodacom Super Rugby, but ended up missing the entire competition with the injury, and didn’t make a self-imposed deadline to return for the last game before the playoffs.

The big lock will be moving to Sale Sharks after the World Cup, but is still hoping to be part of Rassie Erasmus’ plans for the showpiece tournament, but first needs to regain his match fitness and prove himself to the national squad.

Vodacom Blue Bulls Fitness Report vs DHL Western Province

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And while the team will be announced on Wednesday, there is a good chance De Jager, who has been training with the Bulls this week, will be part of the match day 23.

The news will come as a big boost to coach Pote Human ahead of the Newlands opener, especially after the team lost flanker Nic de Jager with a torn Achilles tendon in the pre-season warm-up clash with the Pumas this past weekend.

Former Lions lock Andries Ferreira is training with the squad at the moment and completing his rehab from an ankle injury, while former Springbok flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff is over his knee injury and is available for selection.