Van der Merwe back for Bulls

Bulls prop Marcel van der Merwe has been cleared to return to the playing field and trained with the squad, team doctor Org Strauss confirmed yesterday.

The prop has recovered from a hamstring injury and ligament strain.

News on the injury of midfielder William Small-Smith has been less fortunate though, with the player being ruled out for at least two months with a foot injury.

He will join the long-term injury group consisting of Flip van der Merwe (pectoral, April), Pierre Schoeman (knee, July), Bandise Maku (pectoral, six months), Burger Odendaal (knee, four weeks) and Werner Kruger (ankle, three months).

Arno Botha will be out for another two weeks with his pectoral muscle tear, Strauss indicated.

Rudy Paige, Bjorn Basson, JJ Engelbrecht, Hencus van Wyk and Mornè Mellett will not train on Monday due to minor niggles, but Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg will be back after recovering from a AC Joint sprain.

(File Photo: Gallo Images)

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