Special story behind Steven Kitshoff’s unique nickname

Tributes have understandably been pouring in for Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff after he was forced to announce his retirement due to a serious neck injury.

The double World Cup winner will go down as one of the greatest Springbok props of all time, while his loyal service and leadership at the Stormers has unequivocally seen him firmly cement his status as a club legend.

The popular forward is not only well known for his incredibly powerful scrummaging, but also for his unique nickname ‘Spicy Plum’.

So where did it originate from?

As the story goes, this nickname was first bestowed upon Kitshoff by beloved late rugby commentator Kaunda Ntunja, who had an incredible way with words and clearly felt it aptly described his appearance and explosive power on the field.

The nickname stuck and even forms part of Kitshoff’s own Instgram bio, with the Springbok star once sharing his affinity for it.

 “There was a legendary Xhosa commentator who passed away a couple of years ago. He dubbed me ‘Spicy Plum’,” he explained to overseas media during a press conference back in 2023.

“I think we were playing a Test at Newlands against the All Blacks. He called me Spicy Plum in the game and it stuck. It became a bit of a thing in South Africa. I don’t mind it, it is a nice name.

“I don’t mind if someone calls me Spicy or Spicy Plum or Kitsie, it is all the same,” he added.

Steven Kitshoff was a formidable player, but universally popular person

During a press briefing this week that was held by the Stormers after the news of Kitshoff’s retirement was made public, coach John Dobson also shared a light-hearted anecdote about a team building exercise that involved players singing acapella.

Dobson humorously explained how Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger took it upon themselves to sing Adele’s Set Fire to the Rain, and kept moving Kitshoff from side to side to depict a “fire” with his ginger hair.

“He’s always been a real glue guy in the team,” Dobson commented. “He transcended cultures, I know it sounds like a eulogy, but he was that special to us.”

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