Europe 1 with AFP 23:10 p.m., April 24, 2023

South Africa captain and third row Siya Kolisi could miss the Rugby World Cup in France. The Sharks player seriously injured his knee on Saturday during the match against Munster. The 31-year-old will either have to undergo surgery or wait for a natural but slow recovery.

South Africa's captain and third row Siya Kolisi injured his knee on Saturday and his participation in the World Cup in France in September is now in question, according to a source at the South African FA (SARU). During the meeting of the United Rugby Championship (championship mixing Welsh, Irish, Scottish, Italian and South African teams) between his team the Sharks and Munster, in Durban, the 31-year-old world champion came out in the first half, victim according to the South African press of a partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament.

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Operation or slow healing

It was Kolisi's last home game with the Sharks, before his scheduled transfer to Top 92 Racing 14 after the World Cup. "If he is recommended an operation, and he accepts, he will probably not play again this year," a source told AFP. "The other option is to let the injury heal but it can take about four months, which means he wouldn't play again until September."

In this second scenario, the Boks captain would probably miss all the World Cup warm-up matches. South Africa will begin their world title defence against Scotland in Marseille on September 10, and will then meet Ireland, Romania and Tonga in Group B.