South African World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff forced to retire after injury left him 'millimetres from death'
ByTNT UK
Published 25/02/2025 at 17:44 GMT
Tributes are being paid to World Cup-winning South African prop Steven Kitshoff, who has been forced to retire from rugby. He needed surgery following a serious injury while playing in the Currie Cup last year and hasn’t been able to continue playing. Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has called him a ‘warrior’ and a ‘fine ambassador’.
Highlights as South Africa beat England in semi-finals of Rugby World Cup
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Two-time World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff has been forced to retire from rugby after suffering a serious neck injury last year.
The South African prop, 33, was playing in a Currie Cup match for Western Province when the injury occurred.
It required him to undergo surgery and he later revealed the scrum incident left him "two millimetres from death".
Kitshoff had aspirations to return to professional rugby once recovered, but his team, Stormers, say he has now been "forced to call time on his illustrious career".
A club statement added: "Following an extensive rehabilitation process, he has been left with significantly reduced rotation of his neck and the advice from a specialist neurosurgeon was that there would be a high risk of another injury should he continue playing."
Kitshoff has been a key part of the successful South Africa side in recent years, helping them to World Cup glory in both 2019 and 2023. He represented the Springboks 83 times after making his international debut in 2016.
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"Playing rugby has been my life from a young age and I was lucky enough to live the dream of many young boys by representing the Springboks and the DHL Stormers" he said.
"It is obviously incredibly disappointing for my career to end in this way, but unfortunately the risk to my wellbeing was simply too high.
"I really wanted to finish my story with the DHL Stormers on the pitch and gave the rehab and comeback the best shot I could, but it was not to be."
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Springboks parade Webb Ellis Cup after South Africa's Rugby World Cup triumph
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Kitshoff’s career began at Stormers, making his club debut as an 18 year-old back in 2011. He also had spells with Bordeaux and Ulster.
Tributes from around the world of rugby are being paid, with South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus saying: "He is a true team man.
"He earned enormous respect from his team-mates and the coaches with his high work ethic, drive to be the best he can on the field, and his down-to-earth nature.
"He will always remain a warrior and fine ambassador of what the Springboks stand for, and we wish him luck as he begins this new chapter in his life."
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