John Dobson has confirmed that Seabelo Senatla is expected to be back playing for the DHL Stormers before the end of the year, as the speedster closes in on a remarkable return from injury. DYLAN JACK reports.
Senatla’s rugby career was up in the air after he was involved in a car accident in May 2023, just before a Vodacom URC quarter-final against the Vodacom Bulls.
He suffered severe nerve damage to his arm, not only ruling him out of the 2022-23 playoffs, but putting his career under serious threat.
The 31-year-old has been back in training with the DHL Stormers since May this year, but has been under medical insurance, pending a reassessment of his injury.
Ahead of the Stormers’ first home game of the season against Munster, Dobson gave a positive update on Senatla’s situation.
“He’s magic. He has trained fantastically,” Dobson said. “He just needs the medical clearance. He is allowed to train, but the second he steps onto the field, his insurance stops, which I think ends soon anyway.
“He has just got to be cleared. His medical clearance is imminent. Once he is cleared medically, then he will start playing for us and his insurance will stop.
“It’s a remarkable thing,” Dobson added. “From almost losing his arm two seasons ago, he is now training outstandingly and contributing to the squad. We are very excited. Before I was a bit worried, with the risk involved, but hopefully in the next month or so, he is cleared and playing.
“It’s incredible, absolutely incredible.”
In terms of the Stormers’ other long-term absentees, Steven Kitshoff will undergo another scan in the next couple of weeks to determine the severity of his neck injury, while Deon Fourie is hoping to return for the November derby against the Sharks in Durban.
“We have to wait for six weeks, which hasn’t come yet,” Dobson said on Kitshoff.
“There’s a thing called an ADI gap, which is a measurement at the top of the neck. They are waiting until after six weeks to see if there is improvement. That hasn’t come yet. It will be in the next week or two. Then we will know whether he needs surgical intervention, which could mean he’s out for six to eight months.
“Where the injury is, you have to be super conservative.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
