Pieter-Steph Du Toit and an inset of Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus.

Rassie Erasmus has received another shot in the arm ahead of the international season, with Pieter-Steph du Toit returning to fitness, but there is a catch.

The 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year has yet to play a minute of rugby this year since sustaining a shoulder injury while on duty for the Springboks in November last year.

Having gone under the knife in South Africa, Du Toit has now returned to Japan and will continue his rehabilitation at the club.

However, he is unlikely to play for the relegation-threatened Toyota Verblitz this season.

The Sir Steve Hansen-led club heads into their final two games of the regular season with a two-point buffer over second-last placed Mie Honda Heat.

Du Toit returns to training

But because Du Toit was de-registered from the league to accommodate the injury-cover signing of Wallabies legend Michael Hooper, he will be unable to feature for the club in the final two matches and the potential relegation playoff fixture.

This is because the flanker has not been re-registered to play the final two games while Verblitz have announced he will be part of the pre-match off-site fan experience before the club’s final fixture of the season against Kubota Spears Funabashi.

If Verblitz do not register the Bok star before the clash against the Spears, he will be ineligible to play in the relegation battle match as players have to have played at least one regular season game to be considered for selection in the playoff and relegation matches.

Still, Du Toit is bound to be named in the Springboks squad for the Incoming Series despite entering the international season cold with Erasmus doing the same for hooker Malcolm Marx in 2024.

Ben-Jason Dixon setback

The injury Marx suffered during the 2023 World Cup pool stages ruled him out of the Japanese season, but he was still recalled for the Bok squad and featured 12 times in Green and Gold last year.

Du Toit’s return to training is still a boost for the Springboks, particularly after Ben-Jason Dixon’s injury.

The Stormers man has sustained a wrist injury that will see him miss the July internationals against Italy and Georgia.

Dixon made his debut for South Africa last year and filled Du Toit’s void on the side of the scrum against Portugal, Australia and Argentina.

The news that Du Toit is back in training comes off the back of Jasper Wiese confirming that he will be fit in time for the start of the international season after fears that a neck injury would rule him out.