Stormers send Evan Roos and Marcel Theunissen for medical treatment

The Stormers have sent loose forwards Evan Roos and Marcel Theunissen back to Cape Town for specialist medical treatment ahead of their United Rugby Championship match against Edinburgh.

Roos is dealing with a hamstring injury, while Theunissen is treating a calf strain. Both players were late withdrawals for the Stormers’ previous fixture, a bonus-point victory over Connacht.

The loss of the two loose forwards comes as the South African side looks to maintain its unbeaten start to the URC season. The team is currently managing several roster adjustments as they prepare for the round-two encounter in Scotland.

Squad updates for Edinburgh fixture

While Roos and Theunissen have departed the squad, loosehead prop Ntuthuko Mchunu joined the team over the weekend. Mchunu’s arrival provides a boost to the forward pack as the team prepares for the physical demands of the match at Hive Stadium.

The Stormers are also monitoring the status of Springbok Ben-Jason Dixon. Dixon has been traveling with the squad but has been hindered by concussion symptoms.

Hlungwani noted that it would be nice to have both Mchunu and Dixon available for the match against Edinburgh, though Dixon’s availability remains dependent on his recovery from the concussion.

Current form and competition context

The Stormers enter the Edinburgh match following a strong performance against Connacht. The victory secured a bonus point, keeping the South African representative in the upper tier of the URC standings.

The absence of Roos and Theunissen forces the coaching staff to shuffle the back row.

The team’s ability to integrate Mchunu and potentially Dixon will be critical in offsetting the loss of two key loose forwards. The Stormers will seek to maintain their unbeaten momentum as they face Edinburgh on Friday night.