Today's rugby news as Springbok diagnosed with brain tumour and Wales star 'can be one of world's best'

These are your rugby headlines on Thursday, December 12.

Springbok diagnosed with brain tumour

South Africa international Andre Snyman has been diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma - a tumour that grows inside the ear canal and affects the brain.

The former Springbok - who won 38 Test caps during his career - is set to undergo surgery to try and remove the tumour next month, having been diagnosed in October. Recovery time after the surgery is expected to be three months, but Snyman already faces immediate challenges, with the tumour affecting his balance and his ability to lead a normal life.

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A fundraising page has been set up to help the 50-year-old and his family, with the former back "no longer able to drive or move without concern due to his balance being impacted".

Since retiring from rugby in 2007, Snyman has spent the majority of his time living in America, coaching rugby at various levels in and around Denver. He is currently the coach of the girls side at Valor Christian High School Rugby Club in the suburbs of the city.

As a player, he represented the Bulls, Sharks, Leeds Tykes and Perpignan, while he was an ever-present in the Springboks side that faced the British & Irish Lions in the 1997 series.

An excerpt from the GoFundMe page reads: "On October 18, 2024, former South African Springbok rugby player and current Valor Christian High School Rugby Club girls coach, Andre Snyman, was diagnosed with a vestibular schwannoma (otherwise known as an acoustic neuroma), which is a tumor that grows in the ear canal affecting his brain.

"The side effects have been debilitating for Andre, and he is no longer able to drive or move without concern due to his balance being impacted. He will undergo surgery in mid-January to hopefully remove the tumor. While the recovery time is expected to be 3 months post-surgery, there are immediate challenges that Andre and his family are navigating - both medical and non-medical."

"To help alleviate the added pressure of this unexpected health crisis that Andre finds himself in, I have created this GoFundMe so that friends, members of the rugby community, colleagues, and those who feel so inclined are able to aid in his immediate time of need and post-surgery recovery.

"Along with helping to provide assistance for Andre and his family, I am sure you will all join me in wishing him success with his impending surgery and a speedy recovery thereafter."

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Wales star 'can be one of world's best'

Former Wales star Scott Baldwin says current captain Dewi Lake has the ability to be one of the best hookers in the world as he praised the Ospreys man for how far he has already come.

Baldwin returned to Welsh rugby in 2022 having spent three years across the border with Harlequins and Worcester and replaced an injured Lake in Warren Gatland's Six Nations squad the following year, more than five years after his last Test appearance.

The 36-year-old, who is now head coach at Bridgend Ravens, has spoken about the pair's relationship before and after he returned to Welsh rugby and said he "wanted to give [Lake] everything I had" as he reached the end of his career. Praising his talents, Baldwin said the current Wales skipper is good enough to be counted among the top three hookers in world rugby.

"Dewi and I have spoken about this a lot," he said as he reflected on their relationship on the Ollie Olds podcast. "I came back [to Wales] to be number one. That was always my mindset, I always I said the day I don't think I can be number one is the day I retire. I came back knowing, I want to be number one - but also I wanted to give Dewi everything I had.

"Anything he asked or wanted to know, I'd give it to him, because by giving him that, I needed to be better than him to keep playing. And if or when Dewi did take over, great - I played a really small part in that.

"He has the ability to be one of the top three hookers in world rugby, and that's him. Now if you'd asked me before I left, when he was at Bridgend and I was coaching there, he won't mind me saying this but he couldn't hit a barn door with a handful of rice back then.

"But consistency, discipline, practice and Dewi has got a brilliant throw. My last year at the Ospreys, I was playing but I was throwing coach as well and he's got a beautiful throw. You can only really appreciate it as a hooker, but the tight spiral, the release, all that is brilliant. That doesn't come from what they're coaching him, it's him with purposeful practice, done consistently.

Star's future uncertain amid Costelow links

Leicester Tigers fly-half Handre Pollard admits he is unsure where he will be playing next season, amid reports that Wales international Sam Costelow is being lined up as his replacement at Welford Road.

The Springbok has been linked with a move to Suntory Sungoliath in Japan - where he would join up with his international teammate Cheslin Kolbe - with his Tigers contract reportedly set to expire next summer. Pollard says he is not currently involved in contract discussions, with his agent handling matters, but hopes to have some clarity on his future soon.

It comes after reports that 23-year-old Costelow could return to the Tigers if Pollard does in fact depart at the end of the season. The Wales international joined the Premiership side on an academy contract in 2018, but left for the Scarlets two years later having made just four first-team appearances.

Discussing his future with the Tigers, Pollard admitted to BBC Radio Leicester that he has "no idea" where his future lies.

“I can tell you the truth, I do not know yet what I’m doing or where I’m going. I’m just happy being at Leicester and I will enjoy every minute I have here,” he said. “I’m really enjoying playing and all the boys, everyone is enjoying it and you can’t underestimate how important that is.

“We have to play hard and be on it every week, but the enjoyment element of it is so important in a rugby group in a long season like we have these days.”

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Van der Merwe right at home

By PA Sport Staff

Duhan van der Merwe revealed he rebuffed interest from elsewhere to sign a long-term contract with Edinburgh as he declared the club and the Scottish capital his home.

The Scotland winger has extended his second spell with Edinburgh until 2027 at least. The South African-born winger first joined Edinburgh from Montpellier in 2018 and has notched 45 tries in 98 appearances, either side of a spell at Worcester which ended when the club hit financial trouble.

The 29-year-old is Scotland's record try scorer with his haul of 30 one greater than Edinburgh team-mate Darcy Graham and his scoring ability will naturally attract the vast majority of clubs in the world. But he said: "This club and city are my home. My wife and I love it here and I'm incredibly proud to represent the city and our supporters.

"I'd be lying if I said other clubs didn't express interest, but Edinburgh is home for me, and my connection to the club and our supporters were a massive driver in my decision to re-sign.

"I joined Edinburgh as a boy and the club has made me into the player I am today. I'm eager to continue writing my story here. I owe it to the club and the fans to give my all in the years to come."

Head coach Sean Everitt stated he was "absolutely thrilled" to secure Van der Merwe's long-term future.

"He is a world-class talent who brings so much to the team," he added. "His ability to break tackles, score tries and create opportunities for others is invaluable. Duhan's experience will also be vital in mentoring our young back-three players.

"He's someone that our academy players look up to and I've got no doubt he will be able share the skills and X-factor he has developed over time to those players that will pull on the Edinburgh jersey soon. Retaining a player of Duhan's calibre is a testament to the club's ambition as well as the environment we've created at Edinburgh Rugby."