Sport | Springbok, Stormers legend Steven Kitshoff forced to retire from rugby

Stormers captain Steven Kitshoff acknowledges the Cape Town Stadium crowd. (Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)

• Springbok and Stormers legend Steven Kitshoff has retired from rugby.
• The double World Cup winner bows out due to a serious neck injury.
• The 33-year-old played 83 Tests for the Boks and 138 games for the Stormers.
• For more rugby news, visit our dedicated section.

Legendary Springbok and Stormers prop Steven Kitshoff has been forced to call time on his rugby career due to a serious neck injury.

The news was confirmed by the Stormers on Tuesday morning after Kitshoff had sought specialist medical advice.

The double World Cup-winning prop has been sidelined since September after sustaining a career-threatening neck injury while on Currie Cup duty for Western Province. At the time, he had just returned from a serious knee injury.

The 33-year-old went under the knife last year when part of his hip bone was used to fuse the vertebrae in his neck.

It was uncertain whether he would be able to play rugby again, and Tuesday’s confirmation sees him end his career with 138 Stormers caps and 83 Test caps for the Springboks. He won the World Cup with the Boks in 2019 and 2023.

A statement from the Stormers read: “Following an extensive rehabilitation process he has been left with significantly reduced rotation of his neck and the advice from a specialist neurosurgeon was that there would be a high risk of another injury should he continue playing.”

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Kitshoff, who lifted the URC trophy as captain of the Stormers in 2022, says the last six months have been incredibly tough. However, he says he’s grateful to have reached the top of the sport and played for the teams he supported as a child. 

“Playing rugby has been my life from a young age and I was lucky enough to live the dream of many young boys by representing the Springboks and the Stormers.

“It is obviously incredibly disappointing for my career to end in this way, but unfortunately the risk to my well-being was simply too high.

“I really wanted to finish my story with the Stormers on the pitch and gave the rehab and comeback the best shot I could, but it was not to be,” Kitshoff said.

Kitshoff thanked the people who have played a role in his rugby journey.

“There are so many people who have provided incredible support for me over the years, not least my wife, Aimee, and my parents. I will always be grateful to all of the coaches, team-mates and support staff at both the Stormers and SA Rugby and, of course, the fans who have had such a big impact on my career.

“As much as I will miss playing and the special feeling of running out to represent something much bigger than myself, I am also looking forward to an exciting new chapter in my life.

“I’ll be there at Cape Town Stadium cheering the boys on, just like I did as a youngster. I walk away from my playing days with so many incredible memories that I will cherish forever,” he added.

Stormers director of rugby John Dobson paid tribute to Kitshoff.

“Steven Kitshoff is an iconic player who will go down as one of the greats of our game. The only two players with more Stormers caps to their name are his good mates and fellow props Brok Harris and Frans Malherbe,” Dobson said.

“Beyond his undeniable impact on the field and impressive longevity, Steven stands out as a top human being who treated everyone with respect and always remained firmly grounded.

“He started out as a prodigy and proved himself against the best in the world. He will be remembered as a fantastic rugby player and a credit to his family. Playing for the Springboks and the Stormers meant a lot to him and that passion and love was given back to him by the fans.”