Shoulder injury set to sideline Lood de Jager for up to six months

World Cup winning South Africa international Lood de Jager is set to miss the upcoming Rugby Championship tournament following a shoulder injury.

De Jager suffered the injury while playing for his club Sale Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership game against Leicester Tigers where he left the field in the 74th minute. The 27-year-old also had a similar injury that forced him to miss the victorious World Cup final for South Africa against England last year.

Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond said de Jager is set to be sidelined for up to six months as he will need a surgery to address the issue.

"It's not great news on Lood. He's going to have surgery and it is probably going to be a rebuild, so will be five to six months," said Diamond.

The news will be a big blow for South Africa, who are yet to play a competitive game since the sport's suspension following the pandemic coronavirus as Handre Pollard ruptured anterior cruciate ligament while playing for Montpellier while RG Snyman and Eben Etzebeth are also facing rehabiliation.

The Rugby Championship tournament is scheduled to be played between 7th November and 12th December with Australia being the venue for the competition.