Yaqeen Ahmed's Nations Championship tour could be cut short after the rookie Stormers flyhalf sat out Monday's training session in Turin with a shoulder complaint. Rassie Erasmus confirmed the concern at the team announcement press conference, noting that a decision on whether Ahmed returns to South Africa for scans will be made Tuesday morning.
"The doctor told me he is a bit sore," Erasmus said. "I saw him, and he was honest with me and told me he had a sore shoulder. Normally new players would try and hide an injury a bit; he was nice and honest."
Erasmus acknowledged that even a short stint in camp has value for a 19-year-old at this level. "If a player stays a few days and feels out the environment a little bit, starts understanding how we do things and talks to Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu], Aphelele Fassi and those guys, that would be great. But if we need somebody and he can't play, we'll make the call whether he has to return to South Africa."
Ahmed earned his senior squad call-up on the back of a standout debut against the All Blacks in the Greatest Rivalry series and three tries across his last two URC outings for the Stormers.