Springbok and Sharks flyhalf Pat Lambie has been ruled out of action for the rest of the year due to concussion.

Lambie spent several months recovering from a terrible knock to the head that he suffered in a collision with Ireland flank CJ Stander in a Test match on 11 June last year.

The 26-year-old collided with teammate Rhyno Smith during the first half of a Super Rugby clash against the Kings on 13 May earlier this year, with Lambie having since battled with migraines, while being diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome.

READ: Lambie ‘not considering retirement’

Sharks CEO Gary Teichmann confirmed on Monday that while they are still gathering medical advice on what the best way is forward for Lambie, it was decided that taking a break from the game for the remainder of the season was in the best interest of the player and his health.

‘We are in the hands of the medical experts, but it seems unlikely that Pat will play for the Sharks [and Springboks] again this year,’ Teichmann told Durban media. ‘It is very sad that our captain cannot play, but the matter is with the experts in this field and it looks like Pat must take a long rest from rugby.

‘It goes without saying that Pat is being monitored by the leading physicians in this field. We can only hope that he will fully recover after a long break, and we leave the matter in the hands of the professionals,’ he added.

It is believed that Robert du Preez is poised to rejoin the Sharks in 2018 to strengthen the Durban franchise’s flyhalf stocks. Du Preez is currently playing for the Stormers, but it has long been speculated that he would join his father and head coach Robert du Preez (senior) at the Sharks in future.

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