Sharks provide grim update on Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi

The Sharks could be without Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi for the rest of the season, according to head coach John Plumtree.

Mbonambi was forced off the pitch in the opening few minutes of the Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand and now looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

It’s the second time the hooker has sustained an injury in the first half of a final after he was concussed in the 2019 showpiece event against England.

Sharks without Mbonambi

The Springboks have now concluded their trophy tour, having arrived back in South Africa following their successful World Cup title defence in France, and are set to mark their returns to their franchises in December.

However, Sharks boss John Plumtree has revealed that Mbonambi and tighthead prop Vincent Koch will not be returning immediately.

“Well, I guess the main thing for me is hopefully they’ve sobered up to know what injuries they have got,” Plumtree joked with reporters when asked whether he has been in contact with his Bok players and how they were feeling.

“I’m only joking, as far as I know, the only real injuries we have got is Bongi and Vincent Koch, both those guys have knee injuries.

“Vincent is going to be back after three months, and Bongi will be out a bit longer – it could be the season, unfortunately.”

It’s a huge blow for the Sharks, who have endured a poor start to their campaign under their new head coach, losing all four of their opening games.

Scotland international Dylan Richardson has moved back to hooker from the back-row in Mbonambi’s absence this season, despite the side having other options in Danie Jooste, Kerron van Vuuren and Fez Mbatha.

Getting their Springboks back

“The rest are all good to go,” Plumtree added.

“Eben [Etzebeth] is looking forward to it, and I have left them alone because it’s really important they don’t get a phone call from me because they don’t want to hear from me yet, but next week they’ll be hearing from me.

“So we’ll get them back in and see where they’re all at individually, and I think that’s not just physically, but it’s also emotionally, you know, coming off a high like that and coming back into a union or a franchise, or a club, there’s always going to be, they’re all going to be different emotionally, so we’ll just have to suss out how they are feeling, and that could also have a determined how we integrate them back.”

The Sharks go in search of their first win this season as they host Irish province Connacht in their maiden home game of the 2023/24 URC campaign.

They are likely to have Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Etzebeth, Grant Williams and Jaden Hendrikse back at their disposal for the December fixture against the Bulls and their upcoming Challenge Cup clashes.

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