Blue Bulls front ranker Hencus van Wyk will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury.

The injury, picked up during the defeat to Western Province, was scheduled to keep him out of the game for no more than a couple of weeks, but subsequent scans have shown the injury to be worse than originally feared.

Dean Greyling (ankle) and Callie Visagie (groin) sat out training on Monday, along with Ulrich Beyers and Nardus van der Walt who were suffering with sickness.

In some good news for coach Frans Ludeke, Jesse Kriel and Morné Mellett are nearing a return, although they won't be fit enough to make the trip to Port Elizabeth this weekend.

Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images