The Sharks have lost yet another player to injury ahead of their Super Rugby match against the Chiefs in Hamilton.
Centre Paul Jordaan injured his knee during training in Sydney on Monday and has been ruled out for the rest of the season, further depleting a squad struck down by injury ahead of their four-match Australasian tour.
Impressive 21-year-old Jordaan, a member of the world champion Junior Springboks last year, suffered a knee ligament injury while playing a game of touch rugby and will be sidelined for 6-9 months.
Their New Zealand coach John Plumtree described Jordaan’s departure as a “big blow” as he surveys an injury list that he says has swelled to 16.
The Sharks have been forced to call in a number of loan players for the replay of last year’s final, won by the Chiefs, at Waikato Stadium.
Plumtree says injured Springboks winger JP Pietersen could be an option to replace Jordaan at centre but he probably won’t be fit until the tour’s second match, against the Highlanders in Dunedin next week.
After two straight losses, last year’s runners-up have fallen to third in the South African conference and seventh overall.