Fourie blow for Stormers

John Dobson confirmed that the DHL Stormers expect to be without Deon Fourie for the rest of the season after the veteran suffered a knee injury in the Champions Cup loss to La Rochelle.

Fourie left the field on a motor stretcher towards the end of the first half as the DHL Stormers pushed defending champions La Rochelle to the brink in a 22-21 loss in the last 16 in Cape Town on Saturday.

The flanker, who was making his return from a rib injury, suffered a knee injury and is not expected back before the end of the season.

Stormers head coach John Dobson said after the match that while Fourie has seemingly avoided an anterior cruciate ligament injury and still has to go for scans, it is still “serious”.

“It could be the [end of his] season,” Dobson said.

Leolin Zas also suffered a knee injury in the loss, but the Stormers are awaiting scans on the winger before providing an update on his status.

Meanwhile, in an intense and physical contest, the Stormers lost three players – flanks Ben-Jason Dixon and Hacjivah Dayimani and captain Salmaan Moerat – to concussions.

Dixon went down the tunnel midway through the first half and was replaced by Dayimani, who was on the receiving end of an accidental head collision with Moerat in the second half and had to be stretchered off on oxygen.

A couple of minutes after Dayimani went off, Moerat had to leave the field, but the lock did take part in the post-match press conference.

The good news is that the Stormers will have next weekend off, having failed to progress to the Champions Cup quarter-finals, which will allow a week of recovery before the Vodacom URC home clash with Welsh side Ospreys.

The Stormers also have plenty of depth in the back row, with Nama Xaba, Junior Pokomela and Willie Engelbrecht all available after sitting out Saturday’s playoff.

Dobson confirmed that winger Angelo Davids is expected back in the next two to three weeks.

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images