The 34-year-old Tiaan Liebenberg is set to make a return to rugby this weekend when the Toyota Free State XV tackle the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup (Provincial Cup).
The former Springbok, Stormers and Western Province hooker hasn’t played rugby since retiring from the game in 2014 due to a neck injury.
Earlier, Liebenberg, had stated that he took more of sabbatical from the sport with the aim of giving his neck time to recover.
The player has been training with the Toyota Cheetahs for the most of the season, as well as with the Central University of Technology Ixias, where he was also helping out with the coaching.
He has also just recently recovered from a calf injury which delayed his anticipated comeback.
It is expected that Free State coach, MJ Smith, will name Liebenberg on the bench for their match against the Blue Bulls this weekend, while the former Junior Springbok, Joseph Dweba, will start.
Free State opened their Provincial Cup campaign with a bonus point win on Saturday when they beat the Welwitchias of Namibia 32-14 in Bloemfontein.
Dweba, who was impressive during the game and staked a possible claim to tour with the Cheetahs to Australia as from Sunday, scored one of the sides six tries.
Meanwhile, it is also believed that the Springbok flank, Oupa Mohoje, who also crossed the white wash against Namibia, will be drawn up to the Cheetahs team to tackle the Sunwolves of Japan on Friday in the Super Rugby.
With Boom Prinsloo side-lined for the rest of at least the Super Rugby, Hilton Lobberts, in a likely starter against the Japanese outfit, while Mohoje, who only returned to action last week from injury will ride the bench.
Friday evening’s match between the Toyota Cheetahs and the Sunwolves at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 19:00, while on Saturday afternoon the Blue Bulls host the Toyota Free State XV at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria with kick-off at 14:15. – MORGAN PIEK
