JOHANNESBURG - Warren Whiteley’s Super Rugby campaign is over.
The inspirational Lions captain will miss the rest of the competition after it was confirmed on Tuesday that he had a torn ligament in his pelvis. He won’t undergo any surgery but he will be out of action for between six and eight weeks.
Whiteley missed last Saturday’s third Test against France at Ellis Park because of the injury - initially thought to be a groin problem.
Tests conducted on Monday however revealed the pelvis problem.
The Lions return to Super Rugby action this weekend after the June international break and look to be well on their way to featuring in the playoffs.
With 12 wins out of 13, they have already secured a home quarter-final place and should also play at home in the semi-finals, should they go that far in the competition.
The Lions face the Sunwolves at home this weekend, before enjoying a bye, and then wrap up their league fixtures against the Sharks in Durban. That would make it three weeks’ of action, with a further three to come in the knockout rounds.
Whiteley also played under an injury cloud in the playoffs last year and actually missed the semi-final win against the Crusaders. He returned however to lead the team against the Hurricanes in the Wellington final, where the Lions lost.
The next assignment for the Boks is on August 19 when they open their Rugby Championship account against Argentina in Port Elizabeth.
In Whiteley’s absence the Lions will in all likelihood be lead by flanker Jaco Kriel, who himself has just returned from a lengthy knee-injury layoff.
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