South Africa’s director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, is recuperating in hospital following a medical procedure for ‘chemical burns’, according to SA Rugby.
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In a brief social media statement on Saturday, SA Rugby said the two-time World Cup-winning Springbok coach sustained burn wounds following a ‘freak accident using a powerful detergent product’.
It is understood that Erasmus attempted to unblock a drain using a plunger when the accident occurred, according to TimesLive, but the details around what happened remain unclear.
‘He is otherwise in good health and expects to return to full-time working within weeks,’ SA Rugby added.
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Rassie Erasmus, SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby, is recovering in hospital following a medical procedure for chemical burns sustained in a freak accident using a powerful detergent product. He is otherwise in good health and expects to return to full-time working within weeks 🏉 pic.twitter.com/hU2lxmRUUQ
— Springboks (@Springboks) January 27, 2024
The back-to-back world champions will take on Ireland in Pretoria on 6 July, playing their first game at home since claiming the 2023 Rugby World Cup title, before heading to Durban a week later for the second Test.
The 51-year-old, who reached the 1999 World Cup semi-final as a Springbok player, masterminded South Africa’s back-to-back World Cup wins in 2019 and 2023.
Erasmus returned to his role as head coach following the departure of Jacques Nienaber last November. He also held the dual roles of head coach and director of rugby leading up to and during the 2019 World Cup.
Whether he will retain that title in the new Springbok coaching structure, set to be announced in the coming weeks, remains to be seen.
Erasmus was diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis in 2019, TimesLive reported – a very uncommon disorder that causes inflammation of the blood vessels in one’s nose, sinuses, throat, lungs and kidneys.
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Picture: @Springboks / X