Bobo to go under the knife

2008-09-10 07:39

Cape Town - There was good and bad news for the Newlands-based "Streeptruie" on Tuesday.

The bad news was that their in-form centre Gcobani Bobo has been ruled out for the rest of Western Province's Currie Cup campaign this season.

On Tuesday Western Province were told that Bobo needed corrective surgery to repair a chronic shoulder injury which has been plaguing him for several months. Bobo will undergo surgery later this week and his recovery and rehabilitation programme is expected to last four months.

This means that Bobo could be ready for the Stormers' early season programme at the start of 2009.

The good news was that flanker Schalk Burger is a free to play for WP against the Falcons at Newlands on Saturday.

Burger was ordered to appear before a disciplinary committee after he was cited because of a stiff-arm tackle he executed in WP's match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein over the weekend.

The dangerous tackle drew a yellow card from referee Phillip Bosch but since it was his second in the match, he was automatically shown and a red card and banished from the field.

Contract

However, the citing case fell flat because disciplinary committee chairperson Willem Gaum ruled that a player could not be cited for an incident for which he was red-carded and therefore no further action would be taken against Burger.

Other rugby news from Cape Town is that the 20-year-old University of Cape Town wing Mathew Turner has clinched a contract with Bristol Rugby, the English Guinness Premiership side.

The speedy Ikey has an English mother and if he makes great strides for Bristol he could have strong claims to England selection.

English rugby chiefs have taken note of recommendations and have included him in England's Sevens training squad which is preparing for next year's Sevens World Cup. If he makes an impression in the squad he could be wearing the Rose of England (in Sevens) later this year.

Robbie Fleck, the former Springbok vice-captain, who has coached Turner at UCT this season, said: "Mat is a rare one; he is the ultimate wing. Very fast, very strong, highly skilled and a great finisher."

UCT coach John Dobson is ruing the loss of his major attacking weapon. "It's a massive loss for us, the province and, ultimately, a pity for South Africa," said Dobson. "People may not think so now as he is an unknown, but I assure you that this will not be the case for long."

Six years ago Ikey prop Matt Stevens left Cape Town to study at Bath University. Two years later Stevens made his England debut against the All Blacks.

Last year Stevens was a member of England's Rugby World Cup squad and presently has 28 England Test caps.

- SAPA