Big update on Eben Etzebeth’s absence after being stood down from rugby

Thursday, 03 April 2025 at 13:33

byRugby Rucker

Eben Etzebeth has been out of action for four months, still dealing with the lingering effects of a concussion suffered back in December.

Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community for all the latest news direct to your phone.

Given how closely head injuries are monitored in the modern game, concerns have only grown as time has passed.

The good news? The Springbok enforcer has been reintegrated into Sharks training. The bad news? A fresh niggle—picked up at the recent Springboks alignment camp in Cape Town—has put the brakes on his long-awaited comeback.

Once again, Etzebeth has been left out of the Sharks squad for their Challenge Cup clash against Lyon in France this weekend. However, the reason for his absence has now been clarified, with an update providing some insight into his recovery timeline.

With the season reaching its crunch stage, the Sharks are set to welcome back both Etzebeth and Aphelele Fassi at just the right time. Head coach John Plumtree is focused on ensuring the squad is as strong as possible for the challenges ahead.

“The challenge for me is to keep improving the squad, getting the strongest players we can into our squad, and that’s what we’re going to be working hard on for the next couple of years,” Plumtree said.

“We’re getting there. We have some good youngsters coming through, and we’re ambitious—we want to win a big trophy. Right now, we’re still in the URC, and we need to make sure we play very good rugby when we return to face Edinburgh and Ulster away.”

Alun Wyn Jones and Owen Farrell included on list of worst British & Irish Lions

The British & Irish Lions is the pinnacle of a player's career – a chance to prove yourself against the very best. But not everyone rises to the occasion.

While some have cemented their legacies in red jerseys, others have left fans wondering how they even made the squad.

From unfortunate injuries to underwhelming performances, we take a look at some of the worst Lions players across different tours, with big names like Owen Farrell and Alun Wyn Jones making the cut.

2021 tour: Owen Farrell – The forgotten playmaker

Owen Farrell, one of the most recognisable and influential players in modern rugby, endured a tour to forget in South Africa. Despite his vast experience and reputation as a leader, Farrell was named by SA Rugby Mag as the worst-performing Lion on the tour.

Initially expected to play a key role, he started three games and featured off the bench in the first two Tests.

However, as the series decider loomed, head coach Warren Gatland made a brutal call – dropping Farrell from the matchday 23 entirely. It was a stark fall from grace for a player who was once considered indispensable.

WIN A TRIP TO THE 2025 LIONS:

THE PACKAGE INCLUDES

2 x Return flight tickets from the UK to Australia
2 x Tickets to watch the 2nd Test in Melbourne
2 x Tickets to watch the 3rd Test in Sydney
4 x Night’s accommodation in Melbourne with bed & breakfast (24-27 July)
7 x Night’s accommodation in Sydney with bed & breakfast (28 July-3 Aug)
2 x Flight tickets Melbourne to Sydney including airport hotel group transfers
2 x Tickets to watch a private function with Lions legends
Additional events to be announced

The winner will be part of the Lions supporters group with tour representatives on hand to oversee everything.

UK CUSTOMERS LEARN MORE HERE

2017 tour: Stuart Hogg – A case of bad luck

Stuart Hogg was primed to be the Lions' Test full-back in 2017, but fate had other plans. The Scottish star suffered a freak injury in the third game of the tour against the Crusaders, colliding with Conor Murray’s elbow and fracturing his eye socket.

While injuries are unfortunate, Hogg’s Lions career as a whole was disappointing. He failed to make a significant impact on the 2013 or 2021 tours either, making him one of the most underwhelming repeat selections in Lions history.

2013 tour: Tom Court – The holiday call-up

If there was ever a Lions selection that left fans scratching their heads, it was Tom Court in 2013. The Ireland prop wasn’t even in the original squad – he was on holiday with his family when he got the call-up.

Thrown into the squad late, Court was never going to be a game-changer. He did manage to hold his own in the scrum against the Melbourne Rebels, but his inclusion remains one of the strangest in Lions history.

2009 tour: Alun Wyn Jones – A rare disaster for the legend

Alun Wyn Jones is a Lions legend – but his 2009 tour was anything but legendary. A young second-row at the time, he struggled against the formidable Springbok pack, leading Bleacher Report to rate his performances a dismal 4/10.

Jones was criticised for losing the ball in contact, looking out of his depth, and failing to impose himself physically. At times, he even looked "terrified" according to some reports. It was a rocky start to a Lions career that would later see him become one of the most respected captains in history.

2005 tour: Andy Titterrell – The most questionable selection?

The 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand was an unmitigated disaster, and some of the squad selections did little to help. Among the most baffling was Sale Sharks hooker Andy Titterrell, who had just two England caps to his name.

Sir Clive Woodward’s decision to take a bloated 44-man squad led to several left-field inclusions, but Titterrell stood out as particularly bizarre. Lacking the physicality and technical ability required at this level, he made little impact and was quickly forgotten.