CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa captain Warren Whiteley was ruled out of their end-of-year tour of Europe on Thursday after doctors said his groin injury would take two more months to heal. Eben Etzebeth will lead the Springboks in his absence in tests against Ireland, France, Italy and Wales in November and December, SA Rugby said. Whiteley was injured in the build-up to the last test against France in June’s three-match series and missed the entire Rugby Championship. He had been initially expected to return for the final games of the annual southern hemisphere championship, but is now set to be fit before the start of the next year’s Super Rugby season in February. South Africa take on Ireland in Dublin on Nov. 11, then France in Paris one week later, followed by Italy in Padova on Nov. 25 and Wales in Cardiff on Dec. 2.

Source: The Star October 12, 2017 14:37 UTC