Major Setback Erasmus heartfelt message to Player who just suffered career ending injury
Jasper Wiese’s season in Japan is over after the Springboks loose forward suffered a neck injury.
The 28-year-old last played for his club, the Urayasu D-Rocks, in the 36-31 defeat to the Sir Steve Hansen-led Toyota Verblitz last month.
The side coached by former Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw have now confirmed that they will be without Wiese’s services for the remainder of the season.
It’s a hammer blow for Laidlaw’s charges, who sit bottom of the Japan Rugby League One table after 14 rounds of action, managing just two wins.
Wiese’s injury
The severity of the injury has not been disclosed, but the Springboks forward has returned to South Africa to undergo surgery.
“I just wanted to say that I had to come back to South Africa to get an operation on my neck,” Wiese said in a club statement.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to play again this season, but please, your support means the world to us… I really appreciate it, and for the team, all the best for the season. Thank you.”
Wiese missed the start of the Springboks international season last year due to suspension but returned in fine form with a standout performance in the Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
Rassie Erasmus is bound to select the Rugby World Cup winner again in 2025 but will do so knowing that he will be making his return from injury at Test level yet again, with the Japanese season concluding at the end of May.
Wiese will return to Japan ahead of the 2025/26 season, having joined the club from Leicester Tigers but in the meantime, Urayasu have announced the signing of New Zealand U20s international Hunter Morrison as a medical joker.
The back-rower joins the club with immediate effect from Hawke’s Bay Magpies. The 22-year-old was part of the Crusaders’ wider squad ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season but is yet to make his debut in the competition.
Setback for Erasmus
Wiese’s injury could well be another blow to Erasmus’ back-row stocks with Bulls star Elrigh Louw ruled out for the 2025 international season.
The 25-year-old initially missed out on the Bok squad for the July internationals but earned a call-up for the clash against Portugal, where he put in a standout shift, sealing his place in the Rugby Championship squad.
He went on to feature in nine further Test matches after the win over Os Lobos, four of which in the starting XV, but has been dealt a hammer blow for this year.
During the clash against the Lions in January, Louw damaged ligaments in his left knee and also broke his leg which will sideline him until at least January next year.
Meanwhile, 2025 World Rugby Player of the Year, Pieter-Steph du Toit, is yet to feature for Toyota Verblitz this season after sustaining an injury while on duty for the Springboks last November with the club recruiting Wallabies great Michael Hooper to fill his void.
