Cheslin Kolbe Return Date: Stormers Reveal When Injured Springbok Star Could Play Again
- The Springboks face an end-of-year tour without one of their most dangerous attacking weapons, with his recovery now taking centre stage
- Stormers coach John Dobson has provided an important update on the winger’s fitness and his expected return to club rugby
- SA Rugby’s approach to Springbok workloads has also come into focus as the Stormers prepare for another United Rugby Championship fixture
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Source: Twitter
Cheslin Kolbe will miss the Springboks’ end-of-year tour after breaking his jaw against the All Blacks on 9 September 2026. Stormers director of rugby John Dobson has confirmed that the winger is expected to return to action for the Cape side in early December.
Speaking to reporters at a Stormers media conference on Wednesday, 21 October, Dobson said Kolbe would not be available for the Springboks’ November fixtures. His recovery had initially left open the possibility of featuring against Italy on 7 November, followed by France on 13 November and Ireland on 21 November.
However, the Stormers are now targeting the Sharks match on 5 December for his comeback.
“He’s not going to make the Springbok tour, but he’s available for us from the start of December,” Dobson said, as quoted by SA Rugby Magazine.
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He added that Kolbe remained involved with the team despite being sidelined.
“He’s attending team meetings, he’s so involved, we can’t wait to have him. So there’s a silver lining in that.”
Stormers manage Springbok workloads
Dobson also addressed how the Stormers are handling their Springbok players during a demanding international and club season.
He said SA Rugby had applied “zero pressure” on the franchise to either play or rest its international stars. Siya Kolisi, Damian Willemse and Wilco Louw were not named in the squad to face Scarlets on Saturday.
Dobson stressed that the schedule required careful workload management.
“We’d much rather have a fresh, happy, engaged Springbok than a guy who’s literally running on smoke and Elastoplast,” he said.
He added that decisions were made individually, depending on each player’s ability to perform.
Kolbe targets a December return
The Stormers expect Kolbe to be available from the beginning of December, with the Sharks fixture providing a potential return date. His absence leaves the Springboks without a key attacking option for their November campaign.
The precise timing of his return remains dependent on his recovery, but Dobson’s update gives the Stormers a clearer indication of when they could welcome the experienced winger back.
Source: UGC
Cheslin Kolbe’s autobiography makes international headlines
Briefly News previously reported that Cheslin Kolbe’s remarkable journey from Kraaifontein to rugby stardom was taking centre stage in an unexpected location, with the Springbok featured on a giant billboard in New York’s Times Square.
His autobiography, Sidestepping the Odds, explores the obstacles he overcame on his way to becoming a double Rugby World Cup winner.
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Source: Briefly News
