Dobson gives update on injured Malherbe: ‘He’s made progress, but also suffered a setback’

Powerful Springbok tighthead prop Frans Malherbe is still on the mend, but could be back in training for the Stormers in the next few months, according to upbeat Director of Rugby John Dobson.

Malherbe has been battling back and neck injuries since the end of the 2023 World Cup in France, and has sporadically played for the Boks and Stormers over that time, but last ran out for his franchise in April last year.

A lot of uncertainty has surrounded his injuries, with many seeing parallels with how his former Bok and Stormers teammate Steven Kitshoff tried to return to rugby, only to eventually be forced into calling time on his illustrious career.

In contact

But Dobson said he had been in contact with Malherbe this week and seemed quietly confident that he would see the big man back on the field at some point.

“Frans reminded me very directly this week that he is doing rehab every day, which he is. He has made a lot of progress with the neck and the back, but he has unfortunately had a setback on his hip and they’re unsure if it is related (to his other injuries),” said Dobson on Friday.

“So he’s not changing direction yet, and he’s running full speed (ahead). I can’t talk to the (length of the) injury, but (from where he is) it’s normally a month or two more (that he will be out before getting back into training).

“Can you imagine our roster then (when Malherbe is back), it will be phenomenal.”

Same player

Asked if Malherbe would be able to return as a similar player to what he was, Dobson admitted that they wouldn’t know until he got back into scrum training, to see if he can handle it.

“Honestly I would love to give you a glib answer and say yes. But that (injury) is all about the nerve and the pain, because he’s not scrumming yet,” explained Dobson.

“If he goes down (injured again) and there is a referral or something like that and he’s done. So he’s not certain (on if he will be able to fully return). But from staying fit and keeping in general shape, he looks good.”

Dobson, with a smile, also praised Malherbe for being a man of the people saying: “He did point out that there has been an explosion of Kudu in Namibia and he will be going up there in early February to deal with that problem. So he is a community man.”