19 October 2026
Toyota Cheetahs scrumhalf Faf de Klerk has been ruled out of action for eight weeks following an ankle injury sustained during his side's European campaign.
The veteran playmaker was forced off during an EPCR Challenge Cup clash in France, dealing a blow to the Bloemfontein-based franchise's cross-continental aspirations. Medical evaluations have confirmed the extent of the damage, delaying his plans to build consistent domestic form.
The injury occurred on 18 October during the Cheetahs’ tightly contested 29-27 defeat against Top 14 outfit Aviron Bayonnais. De Klerk, who celebrated his 35th birthday a day after the fixture, left the field in the 43rd minute of the encounter. Initial assessments by the coaching staff held out hope that the knock was minor, but subsequent scans revealed a more substantial injury.
The eight-week recovery period means the double World Cup winner will undergo his rehabilitation program through the remainder of the year. He is projected to make his competitive return to the pitch in early January. This timeline puts him on track to be available for Round 3 of the EPCR Challenge Cup, when the Cheetahs travel to Italy to face Zebre Parma.