Update on Springbok star facing retirement fears

As the Springboks continue planning for their title defence at the 2027 World Cup, one major question revolves around whether they will be able to call on the services of influential prop Steven Kitshoff.

Towards the end of last year, the Springbok star underwent a major neck fusion surgery, which lasted several hours.

Although the operation is said to have been a success, and the 32-year-old is recovering well, it is still not clear whether Kitshoff will be be able to play professional rugby again.

At the moment, the front rower is simply focused on making a full recovery from a major operation, and he’s openly admitted that he is no rush to return until his health and neck are strong.

In the latest injury update from the Stormers, though, it’s been confirmed that the Kitshoff will not feature again this season as he continues his “long-term rehabilitation”.

If Kitshoff is ultimately unable to return from this injury, the double World Cup winner could be left stranded on 83 Test caps, while his second stint at the Stormers may be over before its begun.

“There are a lot of people I speak to; the advice I got from the specialist was to make a very conscious decision on how it (returning to rugby) might affect me going forward in maybe five years down the line,” he commented during a recent interview. “That’s the things I’ve got to work through in my head.”

Springbok and Stormers star Steven Kitshoff is keeping his options open

The popular Springbok prop has been out of action since early September after sustaining the injury playing for Western Province in a Currie Cup game after just returning from a serious knee injury.

When speaking on the popular Boks Office show, Kitshoff described how the injury occurred and just why it was such a ‘scary’ situation.

“It’s a bit of a stressful one because it’s such a high area of my neck – C1 and C2 – which is a bit of an issue,” he said. “It was quite a fright. It happened in the weirdest way. Just a normal scrum, and everyday type of thing, and then I just felt something snap at the back.

“Mine was just a normal scrum. The scrum didn’t even collapse. In the process of the scrum, I just felt something go.”

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