It's been a grueling seven months off the pitch for Cameron Hanekom, but the light at the end of the tunnel flickers brightly as Johan Ackermann lays out a potential comeback trail for the Bulls' one-cap Springbok. Hanekom, whose promising rise was abruptly halted by a knee injury during a triumphant United Rugby Championship semi-final against the Sharks last June, has been on a rocky road to recovery. Originally slated for a December return, the loose forward is still fighting to make his way back to the field.
Scheduled to join the Springboks' alignment camp in Cape Town next week, Hanekom will nonetheless miss at least one more game, according to Ackermann. Despite this, his inclusion in the camp signals strong confidence from Rassie Erasmus, who has also called up 11 uncapped players to the 49-man squad, suggesting a keen eye on nurturing future talent.
Ackermann cautiously shared,
"I was nervous to put a timeline to it, but I think we will probably work towards Cardiff or Munster to see Cameron, somewhere around that period."
He emphasized the unpredictability of rehab, which has seen its ups and downs, but recent weeks have shown significant improvement. "Now it’s just to build up his endurance, build up his contact and the rugby side of things. That’s the part we don’t want to rush now, so close to the finish line," Ackermann added.
While Hanekom has yet to feature in any matches for the Bulls this season, his recovery and potential return could not come at a better time. The Bulls are gearing up for a demanding schedule with games against Cardiff and Munster at Loftus Versfeld, followed by a northern tour including clashes against Glasgow Warriors, Dragons, and Scarlets. His comeback would bolster the team's options as they navigate through these critical matches.
Reflecting on the incident that sidelined him, Hanekom recounted the moment in an interview with Kick-Off magazine.
"I saw that Vincent Tshituka was tackled, and I saw an opportunity to steal the ball and give my side an advantage. Siya [Kolisi] came in and cleaned me out. My left heel got stuck in the ground, and the tension was too much,"
he explained. Describing the intensity of the injury, he shared that it sounded like a gunshot, a moment of extreme agony overshadowed by his screams of pain.
As the international season approaches, all eyes will be on Hanekom's recovery trajectory, eagerly awaiting his return to form and his potential impact on both the domestic and international stages.
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It's been a grueling seven months off the pitch for Cameron Hanekom, but the light at the end of the tunnel flickers brightly as Johan Ackermann lays out a potential comeback trail for the Bulls' one-cap Springbok. Hanekom, whose promising rise was abruptly halted by a knee injury during a triumphant United Rugby Championship semi-final against the Sharks last June, has been on a rocky road to recovery. Originally slated for a December return, the loose forward is still fighting to make his way back to the field.
Scheduled to join the Springboks' alignment camp in Cape Town next week, Hanekom will nonetheless miss at least one more game, according to Ackermann. Despite this, his inclusion in the camp signals strong confidence from Rassie Erasmus, who has also called up 11 uncapped players to the 49-man squad, suggesting a keen eye on nurturing future talent.
Ackermann cautiously shared,
"I was nervous to put a timeline to it, but I think we will probably work towards Cardiff or Munster to see Cameron, somewhere around that period."
He emphasized the unpredictability of rehab, which has seen its ups and downs, but recent weeks have shown significant improvement. "Now it’s just to build up his endurance, build up his contact and the rugby side of things. That’s the part we don’t want to rush now, so close to the finish line," Ackermann added.While Hanekom has yet to feature in any matches for the Bulls this season, his recovery and potential return could not come at a better time. The Bulls are gearing up for a demanding schedule with games against Cardiff and Munster at Loftus Versfeld, followed by a northern tour including clashes against Glasgow Warriors, Dragons, and Scarlets. His comeback would bolster the team's options as they navigate through these critical matches.
Reflecting on the incident that sidelined him, Hanekom recounted the moment in an interview with Kick-Off magazine.
"I saw that Vincent Tshituka was tackled, and I saw an opportunity to steal the ball and give my side an advantage. Siya [Kolisi] came in and cleaned me out. My left heel got stuck in the ground, and the tension was too much,"
he explained. Describing the intensity of the injury, he shared that it sounded like a gunshot, a moment of extreme agony overshadowed by his screams of pain.As the international season approaches, all eyes will be on Hanekom's recovery trajectory, eagerly awaiting his return to form and his potential impact on both the domestic and international stages.