Veteran DHL Stormers prop Brok Harris has been ruled out for the remainder of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship due to a hamstring injury.
The 38-year-old prop injured himself playing against Griquas in the Currie Cup two weeks ago, as he made 251 combined caps for the Stormers and Western Province while playing both matches in a double-header at Cape Town Stadium.
On Friday, head coach John Dobson confirmed that Harris, who is now also providing input on the coaching side, is on crutches and will be sidelined for some time.
MORE: Roos back as Stormers switch things up
Trying to see the lighter side of what is potentially a career-ending injury for the seasoned campaigner, Dobson told reporters: “It’s a bit more serious than we thought, and I didn’t think props have hamstrings, it’s ridiculous!
“He is in a brace and maybe he’ll play [again] in the Currie Cup in June but his URC season is probably over. Which means we are thin there in terms of experienced tightheads. In Brokkie, you have a guy who can play at Champions Cup and URC level.
“He volunteered to play that second game, and I didn’t worry about it because he’s a prop and then he pulls a hamstring! He said he sprinted to run off 10 and I said to him, ‘that’s the reason my Dad didn’t want to go to Newlands anymore, was you carrying outside 10!’
“[His injury] is very near his tendon and can get very sore, and he’s not at the start, more at the end of his career so we’ve got to be careful.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images