The Blitzboks will be without their most experienced player for the remainder of the World Rugby Sevens Series after Chris Dry was ruled out due to a knee injury.

Dry, who played in his 63rd tournament last weekend, suffered major ligament damage in South Africa’s quarter-final victory over Fiji at the Cape Town Sevens on Sunday.

‘Chris will be operated on in Cape Town and will not be able to play for between six to nine months, which means he will miss the remainder of the series,’ said Blitzboks doctor Leigh Gordon.

She also confirmed that Siviwe Soyizwapi, who replaced Dry for the last two matches of the tournament, also suffered a knee injury.

‘He should be able to return to play in about six weeks’ time,’ Gordon said.

Dylan Sage, who missed the first two tournaments of the 2017-18 series because of a back injury, will join the squad in full training in January.

The next tournament in the series is the Sydney Sevens, from 26-28 January.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images