Steven Kitshoff called time on his illustrious rugby career after a serious neck injury.
Image: Jean Catuffe/DPPI via AFP
One of the toughest things for Steven Kitshoff, after he decided to retire, was telling his coaches that he was hanging his boots up for good.
Kitshoff (33) yesterday officially called time on an illustrious career with the Springboks, Stormers and Western Province. Although he still wanted to continue playing, a serious neck injury cut those ambitions short a year after he won a second Rugby World Cup with the Boks.
He rejoined the Cape outfit at the start of the season after spending a 'gap year' at Ulster, and he was set to finish his career in the Mother City where it all began in 2010. The injury during a match for WP in the Currie Cup and subsequent advice from medical professionals following a successful fusion surgery made him decide to call it a day.
Kitshoff said a healthy and quality life going forward was the only option, although it was one of the toughest things to tell his coaches of the decision to call it quits.
"You feel like you are letting them down," Kitshoff said.
"I had a quick conversation with Daan (Human, Bok scrum coach). His first reaction when I told him the situation and how serious the injury could've been was to thank me for an awesome career. It is tough to have these conversations with your coaches. Because you still want to be there and you still want to play, but unfortunately it is the reality."
Kitshoff also knew that his time at the Springboks was coming to an end. He will be 35 years old at the next World Cup in Australia in 2027 and says he accepted that the 2023 edition in France was likely his final one. Showing what a team man he is, he added that he did not want to stand in the way of promising young props making their mark in the national setup.
"Gerhard Steenekamp is playing well, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Playing in two World Cups and winning them was awesome and special. They were great moments in my life and it's up there with my wedding day.
"To have stayed involved would've been a massive honour and I would've loved every moment. But in 2023, I already understood I was getting older. I am not as agile as the young guys coming through when they carry the ball and move around the park.
"I had to work hard on my base fitness to stay up with the game. I managed to get through it, but I could feel it was becoming tough."
Some of his fondest Bok, Stormers and WP memories include his international debut in 2016 against Ireland. Then, there was the Currie Cup final in 2012 in Durban facing the Sharks' front row of loosehead Beast Mtawarira, hooker Bismarck du Plessis, and his tighthead brother Jannie. The trio were Bok seniors, while Kitshoff, tighthead Frans Malherbe and hooker Scarra Ntubeni were still young in their WP careers.
"That is probably one of my fondest memories of my early Stormers and Province days, coming up against them as a very young front row. We had incredible Super Rugby runs too and were a strong team with plenty of legends. With the Springboks, it's my debut which I will treasure forever, alongside the double World Cup wins.
"The Lions tour during Covid-19 was also special with lots of memories. We were a group of 35 players and their wives all stuck in one hotel together.
"The cherry on the cake when it comes to the Stormers was that URC final and lifting the trophy. This team went through dark times and managed a way to put performances together and come out on top. That was just a special, special season.
Off the field, there are so many stories to tell, but they are not all PG13," he laughed.
"What I'm probably going to miss the most is that post-game shower beer. Those are some of the nicest beers you can drink."