Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff is taking his time to heal after neck surgery. EPA
Springbok and Stormers prop Steven Kitshoff is in no rush to get back on the rugby field as he recovers from neck surgery.
The loosehead will start his rehabilitation soon, but there are no talks of returning yet after that serious neck injury he picked up in the Currie Cup last season.
He revealed earlier that he was ‘millimetres from death’ after initially not realising how serious the injury was when it happened.
It eventually saw him miss the Boks’ November Tests and he hasn’t played a match for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship (URC) since he returned to South Africa.
Kitshoff spent a season in Ireland after winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup and played for Ulster before deciding to head back to the Cape.
The surgery saw his C1 and C2 vertebrae fused which means he lost 50% of his mobility and that was the dangerous part of the operation.
“I am in no rush to get back on the field or force myself into anything early,” Kitshoff said
“I just want to make sure my health is good, my neck is strong and from there I will make a decision.
“I’m about two months post my operation now and after seeing the specialist last week, he is very happy with my progression.
“It will probably take another couple of months for that bone to solidify and for the internal wound to heal.
“But, I am taking my time and will start my rehab process quite soon and take it day by day.”
To keep his mind from the rugby, Kitshoff has been bidding his time off the field with other interests.
He knows it will be a lengthy break from playing, so he is trying to make some plans for life after rugby.
Mentally, it’s been taxing for the 83-capped ‘Spicy Plum’, as he is affectionately known, and he’s had to speak to several people, including his specialists and coaches about how the injury and surgery will affect him in the future.
He, though, is optimistic about playing again, although he added that it is a bit soon after the operation to make that call.
“There is still that passion for rugby and that drive, but if it is not meant to be, I will make peace with it. To be honest, I haven’t thought past next month.
“I’ve achieved a lot and I am proud of my career. They always speak about not regretting anything you’ve done and I am happy I went to France in 2016. I spent two years there and came back to the Stormers.
“My stint at Ulster, all those things help you to learn and grow as a person. It was good for my wife Aimee and I to bond and get away from the clutter in South Africa, especially on the sporting scene. We grew as a couple.
“If it is meant to be that I continue playing, I am sure I will make more great memories.”
At the moment, he has taken a step back completely from the Stormers and only saw the team a couple of weeks ago before they left for Paris.
He decided to take a clean break from everything because the neck injury was the second big one in the year after hurting his knee in Ireland.
“The last 12 years were relentless in terms of non-stop rugby and now I’ve had this eight months of nothing. I do feel refreshed and energised. If I do get the green light, I will get stuck in again.”
He is hopeful the Stormers can pull off a win in Dublin tonight, even though Leinster is still unbeaten in the URC. The Cape outfit hasn’t been successful against the Irish giants away from home yet, but they’ve targeted this clash to get a win.
Kitshoff says the return of key players could be a massive boost to his side.
“I think this will be a good game. Watching the match against Racing last week, even though we did not win, was one of the more exciting Stormers games. Key guys like Ruhan Nel will also return which could make it interesting.
“This will likely be one of our toughest games, but a wounded Stormers could be quite dangerous.”
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