Pieter-Steph du Toit is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury sustained while playing for his Japanese club, Toyota Verblitz. This latest setback has led to his deregistration from the Japanese squad to allow for long-term rehabilitation.
The club issued a statement confirming his long-term leave: "It has been confirmed that Pieter-Steph du Toit will be taking a long-term leave from Toyota Verblitz. He will undergo surgery for an injury in South Africa, and as a result, his league registration will be cancelled". The club hopes for a speedy recovery, and he could be eligible to play in the closing stages of the season if he is fit to be re-registered.
There is "cautious optimism" from the Springbok coaching staff that he will be fit in time for the start of the 2026 international season in July. Erasmus specifically hopes to have him ready for the Springboks' opening matches, which may include fixtures in the Nations Championship or the "Greatest Rivalry" series against the All Blacks.
“It’s a shoulder op. Last year, he was also operated on. He had a shoulder op on the one side (then), and that’s fixed, and the other shoulder is now giving problems,” said Erasmus.
“But he played with that shoulder. Technically, of course, it’s his club’s decision how to manage that shoulder, but I think after a shoulder op, I think it’s four months or five months to recover, so hopefully he’s ready by June.”