South African rugby star Steven Kitshoff has announced his retirement from all forms of rugby following a life-threatening neck injury sustained last year. The 33-year-old prop, who earned 83 caps for the Springboks, revealed in a statement released by his domestic team, the Stormers, that the injury had left him just “two millimeters” away from death.
Kitshoff, a key player in South Africa’s back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories in 2019 and 2023, reflected on his career, saying, “Playing rugby has been my life from a young age, and I was fortunate to live the dream of many young boys. However, it is incredibly disappointing for my career to end this way, but the risk to my wellbeing was simply too high.”
The injury occurred during a domestic match in 2023, where Kitshoff experienced three “cracking” sounds in a scrum. Initially dismissing it as a pulled muscle, Kitshoff later realized the severity of the situation. Speaking to Rapport newspaper in December, he recalled, “I was two millimeters away from catastrophe, from death.” He was informed by specialists that a vertebra had shifted dangerously close to his brain canal, putting his life at risk.
Kitshoff underwent surgery in November, where a piece of bone from his hip was used to fuse the damaged vertebrae in his neck. Despite the successful surgery, a neurosurgeon recently advised him against returning to play, citing a high risk of further injury.
Kitshoff’s retirement marks the end of a stellar international career with the Springboks, one that saw him participate in two World Cup triumphs. His decision to step away from the sport highlights the ongoing risks that players face in contact sports and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing player safety.
