South Africa's Handre Pollard faces lengthy period on sidelines after rupturing ACL

South Africa international Handre Pollard will face a lengthy period on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligaments while playing for the Top14 club Montpellier.

The 26-year-old left the field on a stretcher in the 49th minute of the game on Friday which they went on to lose 41-17 to Racing 92.

“Following the match last Friday evening between our Cistes and Racing 92 players at La Paris Défense Aréna, the club formalizes the absence for several months of Handré Pollard, victim of a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligaments,” read the statement.

“We wish him a quick recovery.”

The news will be a big blow for the Springboks as the 6ft 2in fly-half is likely to miss the Rugby Championship later in the year and is doubtful for the British and Irish Lions home series next year.

Pollard has played 48 Tests for South Africa since his international debut in 2014 and was part of the victorious 2019 World Cup campaign in Japan.