Stormers' Samuels fights for career
IN BALANCE: Ramone Samuels. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix. IN BALANCE: Ramone Samuels. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix.
Stormers hooker Ramone Samuels might never play professional rugby again.
The 25-year-old suffered what Western Province coach John Dobson described as “one of those [injuries] that you don’t want to watch again” during a Currie Cup warm-up match against Montpellier last season.
He hasn’t played since and while it was reported that it was a knee injury at the time, Dobson reveals that it’s actually an ankle ailment that is keeping Samuels out of the game.
CONCERN: John Dobson, Picture: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix.
The coach explains: “He potentially has a career-threatening injury.
“He’s got a nerve that’s not regenerating in his ankle - the break was so bad.
“The call on his future is going to be made in February.”
MIDFIELDER: Rikus Pretorius. Picture: Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix.
Other than Samuels, Dobson believes he will have a fully fit squad available for the start of Super Rugby next year.
There are a few concerns in terms of depth in the squad, with the coach explaining: “We’re a bit thin at centre, we’ve got two really good youngsters in Matt Moore and Rikus Pretorius.
BACK-UP NO.9: Jano Vermaak. Picture: BackpagePix.
“At No.9, we also don’t really have a proven Super Rugby backup player and we might be looking at keeping Jano [Vermaak] on in some capacity.”
CLASS PROSPECT: David Kriel. Picture: Supplied.
Apart from Moore and Pretorius, Dobson is also excited about other upcoming youngsters.
One of them, a fullback named David Kriel, reminds him of ex-Springboks Pieter “Slaptjips” Rossouw.
Dobson says: “He is a really good player and is going to be special.”