Kolisi heading home from Stormers overseas tour to rest

Stormers captain Siya Kolisi flew home as part of Springbok resting protocols to leave the beleaguered Super Rugby tourists thin on experience as a result of injuries.

This means Kolisi won’t play against the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday.

It also leaves coach Robbie Fleck short of experienced heads after Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit both returned to Cape Town last week.

Lock Chris van Zyl‚ who captained Western Province to the Currie Cup title in 2017‚ sustained a back injury during last Friday’s 24-12 loss to the Reds and is also ruled out.

Utility back SP Marais is also out of the last leg of the tour after suffering a hip flexor injury and Fleck has called for centre Dan Kriel and hooker Chad Solomons as replacements.