Springbok front-ranker Steven Kitshoff has been forced to hang up his studs due to a serious neck injury, following expert medical advice.
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Kitshoff, who turned 33 last month, ends his career with 138 caps for the Stormers.
He also represented the Springboks on 83 occasions, winning two Rugby World Cups (2019 and 2023) as well as a British & Irish Lions series.
Kitshoff is one of a record 56 – and counting – Springboks produced by Paul Roos.
No school has produced more Springboks than the famed Stellenbosch school, with Grey College in second place with 48.
Paul Roos’ 56 Springboks:
Kitshoff’s 83 Tests in the green and gold jersey places him 16th in the all-time list of matches for South Africa.
He is also the second-most capped prop forward behind Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira (117 Tests).
Kitshoff scored 10 points for the Springboks thanks to two tries.
Both those five-pointers came against Italy, in Padua in November 2017 and Genoa in November 2022.
Profile: Steven Kitshoff
| Full names: Steven Kitshoff |
| Date of birth: 10 February 1992 |
| Place of birth: Somerset West |
| School: Paul Roos Gymnasium |
| Springbok no: 873 |
| Physical: 1.83m, 120kg |
| Current age: 33 |
| Test summary: Tests: 83 Tries: 2 |
| First Test: 25 June 2016 – Reserve vs Ireland at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth |
| Last Test: 28 October 2023 – Loosehead prop against New Zealand at Stade de France, Paris |
Surgery
Kitshoff sustained the neck injury playing in a Currie Cup match for Western Province in Kimberley last year and after undergoing initial conservative therapy, the decision was taken to have stabilising surgery.
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.
Permission to train
Kitshoff was first called into the Stormers squad as an 18-year-old, requiring special permission to train with the seniors at such a young age.
He made his Stormers debut in 2011 and established himself as a considerable force up front, going on to earn his first Springbok cap in 2016.
He famously lifted the United Rugby Championship trophy at Cape Town Stadium in 2022, as the Stormers claimed the title in their first season.
A firm favourite with Stormers fans, Kitshoff’s presence will be sorely missed by all associated with the team both on and off the field.
Kitshoff said that while the last six months have been incredibly tough, he is grateful to have had the opportunity to play at the highest level and represent the teams he grew up supporting.
“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 wellbeing 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,” he said.
Kitshoff thanked all those 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, teammates 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 said.
Paid tribute
Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson paid tribute to Kitshoff and the contribution he has made to the game as a whole.
“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.
“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,” he said.
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