Cheetahs lose fullback Le Roux for around a month

Cheetahs and Springboks fullback Willie le Roux is expected to miss the next three to four weeks of Super Rugby with an ankle injury sustained on tour.

Le Roux is thought to have injured his ankle whilst the Cheetahs were on tour in Australasia and sat out last week’s match against the Reds in Bloemfontein as part of the SA Franchise’s agremeent with SARU on resting Springboks.

The Bok fullback was hoping to return this week but Cheetahs doctor Louis Holtzhausen has decided that Le Roux has suffered ankle ligament damage.

The injury will rule Le Roux immediately out of the Cheetahs matches against Lions and Stormers and he could be out for up to five weeks to give him time to fully recover for the Springboks.

The loss is a big blow for the Cheetahs as Coenie van Wyk who came into the team to replace Le Roux for the match against the Reds has also been ruled out with an ankle (broken) and he could be out for up to six weeks.

The Cheetahs have also lost flank Heinrich Brussouw who broke his arm in Saturday’s loss to the Reds and is in a race to recover in time for the end of the season.