Sport | Bok winger Rhule declared unfit for high-level sport, forced to call it a day: ‘I had to do it’

Raymond Rhule in action for La Rochelle. (David Rogers/Getty Images)

La Rochelle’s South African international centre Raymond Rhule, who has not played competitively for 10 months due to a knee injury, has called time on his playing career, the French Top 14 club confirmed on Tuesday.

Declared unfit for high-level sport, Rhule is “medically obliged to put an end to his career and his maritime adventure”, the club said in a statement.

“I had to do this. I haven’t really been on the pitch for two years,” said Rhule in a video released by his club.

“I’m a competitor. For me, being in a team means making a difference. So it was better for me to say stop.”

The 32-year-old, a World U20 champion, won seven caps for the Springboks in 2017, scoring one try against Argentina. He was born in Ghana, but qualified through citizenship for the Springboks.

Rhule first made his mark at the Cheetahs, who he represented between 2012 and 2018 before joining the Stormers for a season.

He then left South Africa for France to play for Grenoble, before signing for La Rochelle where he formed a potent wing partnership with Dillyn Leyds.

He played in both of La Rochelle’s Champions Cup final wins over Leinster in 2022, when he scored an early try, and 2023 when he played on the wing.

A starter in the Top 14 final defeat against Toulouse in 2023, Rhule then suffered a series of injuries, notably to his knee and Achilles, playing just two matches in a year and a half.