Siya Kolisi, captain of South Africa, crowned world champions in 2019, underwent knee surgery four months before the start of the 2023 World Cup (Sept. 8-Oct. 28) in France, a member of his entourage told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"After consulting several specialists, Siya chose to have surgery in Cape Town on Friday," the source said, adding that the third line was suffering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

Thin hope for the World Cup

Kolisi, 31, was injured last Saturday during a United Rugby Championship match between Welsh, Irish, Scottish, Italian and South African teams between his club the Sharks and Munster, in Durban. It was his last home game for the Sharks, his team since 2021, before his transfer in France, to Racing 92 (Top 14) after the World Cup.

If his participation in the next World Cup seems compromised, another source assured AFP that there remained "hope that he will be recovered in time" for the tournament.

"We are not going to draw conclusions one way or the other, but what is certain is that no one can know today how long it will take them to be operational," the source said. South Africa will begin their world title defence against Scotland in Marseille on September 10, and will then meet Ireland, Romania and Tonga in Group B.


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  • Rugby World Cup 2023
  • South Africa