Cape Town - Lions coach Swys de Bruin is happy to have skipper Warren Whiteley fit and raring to go ahead of the 2018 Super Rugby season.
A groin injury kept Whiteley sidelined for six months last year but he recently returned to action for Japanese club NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.
The Springbok No 8 has since parted ways with his club in Japan and is ready to again lead the Lions.
The Lions squad assembled for a pre-season camp in Secunda from Saturday until Tuesday.
There they also played a warm-up game - the Super Rugby team beat the reserve squad members 59-12.
Whiteley captained the Super-team and also scored two tries in the match.
“Warren is always a star. There’s only one Warren Whiteley and he always gives 100%,” De Bruin told Netwerk24.
Whiteley’s injury saw him miss last year’s Super Rugby final, as well as the majority of the Springboks’ Test matches. His last Test was the 37-15 win in the second Test over France in Durban last June.
The Lions start their Super Rugby campaign at home against the Sharks on Saturday, February 17.
