SA relish Burger return

Burger will be back in the Stormers squad for their Super 14 warm-up match against the Bulls this weekend after recovering from a serious neck injury.

The 23-year-old - who was named 2004 world player of the year - sustained the injury in the second test against Scotland in June and has since undergone surgery.

South Africa have since suffered a poor run of form losing their next five matches and only managing to win five times throughout the whole year.

But Stormers coach Kobus Van der Merwe is happy that Burger has recovered sufficiently to play on Saturday in preparation for the new season and eventually the World Cup in September.

"Schalk has been working very hard and his recovery has been pleasing," Van der Merwe told the Cape Times.

"I have no trouble playing him on Saturday and I want to give him as much game time as possible before the Super 14 starts [on February 2nd]."