According to the Sharks’ twitter feed, Frans Steyn has undergone an operation in New Zealand, while Craig Burden has also had to leave the tour.
We’ve asked the Sharks for a full report which we will publish later. For now, what we knows is that Steyn, who is alleged to have broken his leg, must have needed emergency surgery in Dunedin and has had to stay behind.
Burden has suffered a pinched nerve and will be replaced in the group by Monde Hadebe.
No word on a replacement for Steyn has yet been made, while we also have no further news on Tera Mtembu’s condition, save that he did travel with the team to Brisbane, rather than returning to Durban.

Sjoe, we’re really thin this season. Injuries are a nightmare!
I assume Alberts will be on the next plane?
So that brings the injury tally back up to 13, with 4 of those 13 out since pre season.
@Letgo (Comment 3) : I believe our best injury situation was during round 4 when we only had 8 out, but the week after that it went back up to 10.
So almost all of 12 rounds we’ve always had 10 and more players out to injury.
Eish Fransie. Just when he was getting back into good nick. Hope his wife wont again overdo the vetkoek en koeksusters.
Super Rugby = Stupid Rugby. What a silly competition this has become. Players are risking their careers so that rugby union does not die out in Australia. 🙄
The Lions players that aren’t playing this year may yet have something to be thankful for.
our season is basically over, one more loss and we are out of reach for playoffs, and were not going to beat the reds in brisbane.
The witness said that Alberts and Hadebe were on their way to Oz, with a very good chance that Bissie would be on the same flight! Also said that Frans’ injury was a hamaetoma in ankle joint and will be out for approximatelly 3 weeks.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 8) : if this is indeed true, then that is all seriosuly good news!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 8) : So not a break – that is good news
@Ice (Comment 9) : I hope so, the witness does sometimes gets its wires crossed, I am seriously hoping that they are as much right now as they were in their team announcement.
@Bokhoring (Comment 10) : It appears so.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 11) : I know for a fact that Bissie’s injury is healed, he just aren’t match fit yet.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 8) : Who’s coming for frans though?
@Letgo (Comment 12) : Gees I hope then they do not rush him in, and cause another injury! I just canot wait to see him back on the field!
@Letgo (Comment 13) :
which Lions player would you prefer ? 😛
interesting that tera is posting pics of views meanwhile all around he is supposed to be badly hurt.
https://mobile.twitter.com/TeraMtembu/status/331281940877541376/photo/1
@Megatron (Comment 16) : I’m sure he’s camera-picture-takey finger came through unscathed 😉
Steyn injured, Marius Joubert injured in Vodacom Cup, JP Pietersen likely to be moved to centre… If Tyler Fisher and/or Kotaro Matsushima don’t feature this season, I might just switch off the TV until John Smit takes the reigns
@disgruntled shark (Comment 18) : Not that I am happy for an injury, but am relieved Marius Joubert is out of contention as a replacement!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 8) : I really hope that’s true 😛
It will be so nice to see Bissie and Alberts in a sharks top again. Let’s hope Bissie is ready for the June Springbok tests, even if he’s just playing off the bench for Strauss.
OK injury list seems to be as follows.
Backs:
Steyn
Jordaan
Butch
Reinach
Ludik
Joubert
Coetzee
Whitehead
Forwards:
Alberts
Kanko
Botes
Mtembu
Beast
Burden
Chadwick
Dell
Bismark
Just return from long injuries:
Deysel
Mvovo
JPP
Cannot think of any other players out??????
@sharks_lover (Comment 21) : Kanko is not injured – he was dropped for poor form
@Bokhoring (Comment 22) : I know, just added him there to see the total out.
@sharks_lover (Comment 21) :
So the injured tema would look like this.
15 Steyn
14 Coetzee
13 Jordaan
12 Tim
11 Ludik
10 Butch
9 Reinach
8 Kanko
7 Mtembu
6 Botes
5
4 Alberts
3 Dell
2 Bismark
1 Beast
Burden
Chadwick
@Letgo (Comment 24) : HECTIC!!!!
A full team and two subs, it’s never ever been this bad. 😯
@Letgo (Comment 24) : Funny how Burden is still on the bench, even in the injured team line up 😆
Some seem to be saying that Steyn’s injury could be career threatening. Hell I hope this is far from the truth