Burger back to beef up Stormers

Springbok Schalk Burger will make his first appearance since June on Saturday.

Former World Player of the Year Schalk Burger will make his first appearance since June in a Super 14 warm-up game on Saturday.

There were fears that the South Africa flanker's career was in jeopardy after he suffered a serious neck injury in the second Test against Scotland that required surgery.

But he has made a successful rehabilitation and Stormers coach Kobus van der Merwe has named the 23-year-old forward in his team to face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. 
 
"Schalk has been working very hard and his recovery has been pleasing," Van der Merwe told the Cape Times.

"I have no trouble playing him on Saturday and I want to give him as much game time as possible before the Super 14 starts on February 2."

In the absence of the IRB's 2004 Player of the Year, the Springboks lost their next five matches.