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South Africa centre De Allende allays injury fears after fire pit explosion

South Africa's Rugby World Cup winner Damian de Allende has been in sensational form for Irish Pro14 side Munster. Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images

South Africa centre Damian de Allende has played down fears he could miss the British & Irish Lions series after he was burned in a fire pit accident on Saturday along with three other Munster team mates.

Rugby World Cup-winning duo De Allende and RG Snyman, who were last week named in the Springboks' squad to face the British & Irish Lions next month, sustained burns to their legs, hands and face, Munster said in a statement on Monday.

They were with Irish internationals Mike Haley and C.J. Stander when petrol was poured onto the fire, causing an explosion.

After treatment in hospital De Allende said there are no fears of him missing the Lions series.

"We were just sitting around the fire and one of the boys threw a bit of petrol over [it] and then it caught his hand," De Allende told South Africa's SuperSport.com on Tuesday, without revealing the culprit.

"He just tried to put it [the petrol can] down on the floor and then the whole thing caught alight and exploded.

"They thought it was a lot worse when we went into hospital on Saturday night but when we saw the specialist on Sunday he said it wasn't as bad as they got told. We should be okay in a few weeks."

Haley and Stander sustained burns to their hands but might return to training this week, with their availability for Friday's game to be reviewed, Munster said.

"We are hugely relieved that the lads are all OK," Munster coach Johann van Graan said.

"The players have all been treated and are being well looked after."

De Allende is an integral part of the Bok side and would be a big miss.

Snyman is already a doubt for the series as he recovers from a long-term knee injury, but was included in the 46-man squad named by coach Jacques Nienaber on Saturday.

South Africa play the Lions on three consecutive Saturdays from July 24.