Pieter-Steph du Toit set for five months out after shoulder operation

Last Friday, the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year’s Japan Rugby League One club Toyota Verblitz issued a statement which said he was being deregistered for the rest of their campaign.

"It has been confirmed that Pieter-Steph du Toit will be taking a long-term leave from Toyota Verblitz," the vague and brief statement read.

"He will undergo surgery for an injury in South Africa, and as a result, his league registration will be cancelled. As a team, we hope for a speedy recovery.

"The exact date of joining the team will be announced once it is confirmed."

Erasmus has now provided more clarity on the injury and revealed that Du Toit is ruled out due to a shoulder issue, similar to the one which kept him on the sidelines for a lengthy period last year.

That setback also led to Toyota Verblitz deregistering him with former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper eventually joining the club on a short-term deal as the Springboks star’s replacement.

Despite Du Toit’s latest injury, Erasmus is hopeful the double Rugby World Cup winner will recover in time to play for the Boks when they kick off their 2025 international campaign against England in their Nations Championship opener in Johannesburg on July 4.

"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 (recovery time) so hopefully he’s ready by June."

Du Toit was last in action against the Kobe Kobelco Steelers on December 27 and has only played in three matches for Verblitz during their current Rugby League One campaign.

Judging from what Erasmus said, it sounds like a case of deja vu for Du Toit as he underwent surgery on his previous shoulder injury roundabout the same time last year and also spent roughly the same time on the sidelines.

Despite that shoulder injury, the 33-year-old made a full recovery and was one of South Africa’s best players last year.

His excellent form at Test level resulted in him being nominated for the 2025 World Rugby Player of the Year award, which was eventually won by his Boks team-mate Malcolm Marx.

Apart from his shoulder issues, Du Toit has suffered several serious injury setbacks during his career. That includes surgery on both his ankles, two knee operations, a fractured sternum and acute compartment syndrome which almost resulted in his left leg being amputated in 2020.