Luke Watson, seriously unlucky on the injury front this year, is to undergo an ankle operation which will see him sidelined for the rest of the season.
“I do not know the exact nature of the injury, but he has been to Cape Town to see a specialist and the outcome is that he will undergo an operation and will be out for six months,” Kings’ director of rugby Alan Solomons confirmed on Tuesday.
Solomons said he believed the Eastern Cape outfit would be able to handle the absence of Watson after several setbacks prevented him from playing for much of the year.
In Watson’s absence, Cornell du Preez, Wimpie van der Walt and Jacques Engelbrecht will make up the loose trio.
Centre Andries Strauss will captain the Kings for the rest of the season, with lock Darron Nell as his Man Friday for the Bulls’ match on Saturday. Wing Michael Killian returns to the side, while Sergeal Petersen and Siyanda Grey remain on the injured list.
Kings: 15. SP Marais, 14. Marcello Sampson, 13. Ronnie Cooke, 12. Andries Strauss (captain), 11. Michael Killian, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Shaun Venter, 8. Jacques Engelbrecht, 7. Wimpie van der Walt, 6. David Bulbring, 5. Darron Nell, 4. Cornell du Preez, 3. Kevin Buys, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. Schalk Ferreira
Bench: 16. Grant Kemp, 17. Hannes Franklin, 18. Rynier Bernardo, 19. Devin Oosthuizen, 20. Nicolas Vergallo, 21. George Whitehead, 22. Shane Gates.
