Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus held a press conference in Cape Town on Wednesday, offering several key insights as the team prepares for the 2025 Test season. Among the important updates, Erasmus confirmed that Trevor Nyakane, the World Cup-winning prop, is one of the players expected to miss the year due to a significant injury.
Nyakane recently shared on social media that he ruptured his Achilles tendon, and his recovery will be a long process. Before the injury, Nyakane had seen limited game time as the Springboks entered a new World Cup cycle, and his involvement had decreased since the 2023 World Cup. He made a brief appearance as a substitute in the Test against Portugal but was later released from the team camp. It seemed his future would be primarily with the Sharks.
Is This the End of Trevor Nyakane’s Springbok Career?
At 35, Nyakane, who turns 36 in May, is not expected to return to action this season. He confirmed the injury on Instagram, describing the rupture as extremely painful but expressing optimism after a successful surgery. The doctors were positive, and now Nyakane is focused on his recovery journey.
While the Springboks value Nyakane’s work ethic and reliability, his future with the team is uncertain. It’s possible that we have seen the last of the hardworking prop in the green and gold, which would be a sad ending to his remarkable international career.
