Ricky Januarie has been ruled out of South Africa’s Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland after picking up a knee injury during Western Province’s Currie Cup final defeat to the Sharks.
Januarie was in line to feature for the World Champions against Wales when the Springboks visit the Millennium Stadium in two weeks time.
The former Osprey has played against Wales on four previous occasions, scoring a try in the 2008 Summer Tour match in Pretoria.
But he will have to wait to face the men in red again after this latest injury set-back during his side’s 30-10 final heartbreak.
The scrum-half was forced from the field after only half-an-hour at Kings Park and consultation with Springbok doctor Craig Roberts confirmed that he would be unable to take part in the Tests against Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England and the clash with Barbarians.
Bulls No. 9 Francois Hougaard and Ulster utility back Ruan Pienaar are the other scrum-halves available, with a decision on whether further cover is required set to be made at a later date.
Springboks head coach Peter De Villiers has also called Adi Jacobs into the pre-tour camp in Johannesburg after Januarie’s Western Province team-mates Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh picked up knocks.
De Villiers is carrying a groin problem, while de Jongh has an ankle injury, with both set to be assessed before a decision on whether Jacobs will tour is taken.
“We will monitor Juan and Jean’s progress in the next couple of days,” said Peter De Villiers.
“We have had a number of injuries among our senior centres so we decided it was essential to have some experienced cover on hand and in the group just in case.”
