Pieter-Steph du Toit to undergo surgery in South Africa
- Mark Pickering
- 1 minute ago
- 2 min read
Toyota Verblitz’s two-time World Player of The Year Pieter-Steph du Toit has been withdrawn from Japan Rugby League One to undergo surgery in South Africa.
The 33-year-old has made three appearances this season in the second row for Steve Hansen and Ian Foster’s struggling side.
Springboks great du Toit played his first club game in 587 days when he featured in their win against Franco Mostert’s Honda Heat on 13 December.
The double World Cup winner got through 67 minutes against Cheslin Kolbe’s Suntory Sungoliath a week later and played the full 80 minutes against Kobe last time out.
Toyota, who are languishing in 10th place after one win in five games, announced du Toit’s ‘long-term absence’ on Friday afternoon ahead of their trip to Kwagga Smith’s Shizuoka Blue Revs on Sunday.
“It has been confirmed that Pieter-Steph du Toit will be taking a long-term leave from Toyota Verblitz,” read a club statement.
“He will undergo surgery for an injury in South Africa and as a result, his league registration will be cancelled.”
Japanese sides tend to be tight-lipped about injuries and unavailable players and typically only make an announcement when a player is forced to temporarily withdraw such as Yokohama Canon Eagles’ Faf de Klerk in December. Toyota has not shared details on the injury.
RugbyJP can confirm that du Toit has already been de-registered with All Blacks legend Aaron Smith and former New Zealand wing Mark Tele'a the two remaining Category C players (capped by a country other than Japan).
Former Scotland lock Richie Gray, 36, is yet to be registered to play this season.
Cash-rich Toyota could delve into the market for a replacement player with Test match experience but they boast one of the deepest squads in the competition.
They still have five locks registered including new signings Harrison Goggin and Zach Gallagher and nine flankers.
Lourens Erasmus and Gallagher get the nod in the second row against Shizuoka while William Tupou and captain Kazuki Himeno play either side of number eight Blair Ryall.