Schalk van der Merwe has been ruled out of action for the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury.

The 26-year-old prop suffered a shoulder knock in the Kings' Super Rugby match against the Lions a fortnight ago, but it was hoped that he would recover in time for the backend of the Kings' campaign.

On Monday, the Kings confirmed that Van der Merwe requires corrective surgery which will keep him sidelined until next season.

Meanwhile, Alshaun Bock, Ntabeni Dukisa and Masixole Banda are being closely monitored during their rehabilitation. The backline trio also picked up injuries in the game against the Lions. 

In some good news, captain Schalk Ferreira and scrumhalf Rudi van Rooyen have been declared fit after suffering injuries earlier in the year.

Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images