During the 2024 Springbok season, several up-and-coming players were exposed to Test rugby, and powerful loose forward Elrigh Louw was certainly one of the ‘next gen’ stars who enjoyed a breakthrough season.

Louw featured in as many as 10 Tests, primarily making a noticeable impact off the bench.

After such a special year, it meant that his serious leg injury suffered while playing for the Bulls at the start of this year ultimately proved to be a really bitter pill to swallow.

Louw had to wait for a couple of weeks before undergoing an operation due to swelling around his injury area, but eventually underwent surgery that was conducted by Dr Bradley Gelbart, who successfully operated on the knee of Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx in 2023.

The 25-year-old will soon begin an intensive rehabilitation programme, but he has confirmed that the only realistic return date will be at the start of next year.

“I’m waiting for the specialist to give me the go-ahead so I can start my rehab,” Louw told SA Rugby magazine in an exclusive interview opportunity presented by PUMA. “The specialist said it’s about a year-long recovery but it’s an outcome-based plan, so if I’m feeling better in 11 months or even nine months, then I’ll be ready to go.

“I’m targeting January or February next year. I think that’s a good goal for me, to be able to play a few games before the Springbok Tests begin in 2026.”

“A milestone for me is being without pain. I can move freely on crutches now and drive around, so I’m not stuck at home,” he added.

The Springboks are about to begin their season

Rassie Erasmus has already invited two groups of players for an in-person alignment camp (locally-based players) as well as virtual sessions (mostly players based abroad) later this month, and said they want to spread the selection net as wide as possible.

“It’s a big year for us and our planning is in place to allow as many players as possible to see what we’ve got planned and how we want to approach the season, and for the new guys, how we do things at the Boks,” said Erasmus.

“We’ve already got 13 Tests confirmed and we’re looking at adding perhaps another two games to the schedule, to make it a proper international schedule. The last time the Boks played these many games in a year, was in 2007, when there were 17 clashes.

“We are facing the All Blacks twice in New Zealand and we are also playing away against France and Ireland, which will be very tough, and what better way to see if players have what it takes to perform under such massive pressure.

“The Springboks have won twice in 10 Tests in Auckland, way back in 1921 and 1937, and the All Blacks have not lost there in the professional era. Ireland have had our number in recent years, and we all know how tough it is to play in Paris.

“We want to build depth and expand our player base – with the next two Rugby World Cups in mind – specially in certain positions where some of our established players are getting older, and this year will give us that opportunity.

“We used 50 players last year and blooded a number of exciting youngsters, and hopefully we can do the same again this year.

“We already know we’ll be without Steven Kitshoff (retired), as well as Elrigh Louw and Trevor Nyakane (both injured) this year, which will provide opportunities for other players to step forward, while we’d also like to give players more opportunities in certain positions.”

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Src: TheSouthAfrican.com - https://rugga.co.za/springboks/top-springbok-confirms-ill-only-be-back-in-2026/