South African rugby prop Steven Kitshoff has retired due to a serious neck injury that nearly cost him his life. He played 83 tests for the Springboks and was part of two Rugby World Cup-winning teams. Kitshoff described the injury’s traumatic details and the advice from his neurosurgeon about continuing his career.
Steven Kitshoff, a prop for the South African rugby team, has retired from all forms of rugby due to a serious neck injury. The announcement was made via a statement from Kitshoff’s domestic team, the Stormers. Kitshoff, aged 33, played 83 tests for the Springboks and was part of the teams that won consecutive Rugby World Cups in 2019 and 2023, with his last match being the World Cup final in 2023 against New Zealand.
In an interview, Kitshoff reflected on his rugby career and expressed disappointment in his retirement, stating, “Playing rugby has been my life from a young age and I was lucky enough to live the dream of many young boys. It is obviously incredibly disappointing for my career to end in this way, but unfortunately the risk to my wellbeing was simply too high.”
The injury occurred during a domestic match, leading to surgery and extensive rehabilitation. In December, he detailed the incident to Rapport newspaper, explaining, “It was just another scrum, then three cracking noises, pop, pop, pop. I kept playing, thinking it was a pulled muscle. But now I know, I was two millimetres away from catastrophe, from death.”
After surgery in November involved fusing his vertebrae using a bone graft from his hip, Kitshoff received advice from a neurosurgeon cautioning against further play due to the high risk of re-injury. The Stormers confirmed the specialist’s recommendation, highlighting the potential dangers given the proximity of his injury to his brain canal.
Steven Kitshoff’s retirement highlights the severe risks associated with rugby injuries, particularly neck injuries that can have life-threatening implications. This situation serves as a precautionary tale for players regarding their health and safety in the sport. Kitshoff’s successful career and contributions to rugby will be remembered despite his unfortunate early retirement due to health concerns.
Original Source: apnews.com
