Jan Serfontein\u2019s homecoming season at the Bulls has not gone as planned, with the Springboks centre suffering another injury setback.<\/p>\n
The 33-year-old returned to Pretoria after a successful eight-year spell at French club Montpellier, where he won a Top 14 and Challenge Cup title.<\/p>\n
During his time in France, he played over 130 matches for the Top 14 club, averaging around 17 appearances a season, but, after signing a three-year deal to return to Loftus Versfeld, he looks set to fall well short of that mark on his first year back at the Bulls.<\/a><\/p>\n Serfontein has played just three times in the URC<\/a> for Johan Ackermann\u2019s charges and has been kept on the sidelines with a knee injury.<\/p>\n Jan Serfontein\u2019s latest setback<\/p>\n The 35-Test cap Springbok<\/a> looked on track to return to the senior squad when he was named in the squad for the friendly against Boland in February, but only really marked his return in the Bulls XV\u2019s SA U-23 Cup fixture against the Stormers XV last weekend.<\/p>\n Serfontein was replaced in the 59th minute of the 68-26 victory over the Stormers XXIII, and the Bulls have now confirmed that he won\u2019t feature in the return fixture in Cape Town this weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, Jan Serfontein suffered an MCL injury last week,\u201d the Bulls noted when announcing the team for the trip to Cape Town. In his absence, Marnus Rademeyer will get his opportunity in his first start in the blue, partnering PA van Niekerk.<\/p>\n An MCL injury could take anywhere from one week to over three months to recover from, depending on the severity of the tear.<\/p>\n Even if it is a quick turnaround for Serfontein, this season has been the most injury-impacted of his career, as he was readily available for the Bulls when he broke through the ranks as a youngster and regularly played for Montpellier during his time at the club.<\/p>\n Twice during his time in France, he notched up just 11 appearances, a tally he is highly unlikely to hit for the Bulls, but twice played north of 20 games.<\/p>\n Rugby Transfers: Springbok World Cup winner among double Bulls re-signing, ex-Junior Wallaby heads to Newcastle Red Bulls and Leinster hit the market<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Bulls team to face the Stormers XXIII will be captained by Nama Xaba, whilst Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg will feature for back-to-back matches, having also struggled with injuries since joining the Bulls \u2013 also from Montpellier.<\/p>\n Speaking to Rapport<\/a> last week, Ackermann said that the SA u23 was hugely valuable for the Bulls as a tool to help get senior players back to full match fitness, with the teams able to select seven players over the age of 23 in their matchday 23s.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are privileged that we are able to give us like Jan a chance after he was injured for a while,\u201d he said before the clash in Pretoria last week.<\/p>\n Adding that it\u2019s a great platform for younger players too: \u201cI believe the u23 Cup will have a purpose, especially for the guys who are coming out of the u21 bracket like Jean Erasmus, PA van Niekerk and Shaun Schuurman.\u201d<\/p>\n