The Springboks have recalled outside centre Lukhanyo Am into their squad for the Rugby World Cup as an injury replacement for winger Makazole Mapimpi.
Mapimpi suffered a fractured eye socket and cheekbone in Sunday’s 49-18 victory over Tonga, ruling him out of the remainder of the tournament.
That has created the opening for Am, a member of the Springboks’ 2019 Rugby World Cup winning team, who did not make the Boks’ initial 33-man World Cup squad due to a knee injury suffered in the Boks’ win over Argentina in Buenos Aires in early August.
Lukhanyo Am will join the #Springboks in Toulon as replacement for the injured Makazole Mapimpi - more here: https://t.co/GzFpSh4dPD 💚💛#StrongerTogether #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/HLVBG8mNfl
— Springboks (@Springboks) October 2, 2023
However, Am is set to rejoin the squad in Toulon this week, having returned to training as part of his ongoing rehabilitation.
He is the second injury replacement to the 33-man squad following the call-up of flyhalf Handre Pollard for hooker Malcolm Marx. Pollard made a successful return to the team against Tonga on Sunday.
