Retirement: Juan Smith
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South Africa and Cheetahs flanker Juan Smith has been forced to retire following the results of an MRI scan.
Smith has been sidelined since suffering an Achilles injury back in February 2011, but recently made a comeback appearance against the Stormers in pre-season.
However an MRI scan on Monday was negative, after Smith re-injured the Achilles.
An official announcement is expected to be made on Tuesday.
"It was the fans that lifted me after every disappointment of an operation and helped me scrape together hope to try and return to the field. I appreciate the support that I received through the years from my family, and that I received from Springbok and especially Free State supporters," Smith told Die Volksblad.
"There are possibilities but I haven't taken any decisions. I need to assess the physical and mental impact of my injury over the past few years. I'm first going to go for a week's vacation."
Smith played in 69 Tests for the Springboks. He was part of the Rugby World Cup-winning squad in 2007, won the Tri-Nations (2009) and was a member of the Bok squad that overcame the British & Irish Lions in 2009. In 2002, Smith was one of the stars of the South African U21 team that won the IRB U21 World Cup on home soil.
Smith also enjoyed success at provincial level with the Free State Cheetahs when they won the Currie Cup in 2005.
"This is a disappointing day for rugby as we see one of the greats of modern Springbok rugby go into retirement," said Oregan Hoskins, SARU President.
"Juan was a vital cog for every team in which he played and he will be sorely missed, not only by the Springboks, but also by the Cheetahs.
"As one of the hard men of South African rugby, Juan distinguished himself as someone that always put the team first. He wasn't someone who looked for glory, but knew what was needed to get the job done. He never gave less than his very best.
"We wish Juan all the best for his future and hope to still see him involved in rugby in some way. Thank you for your great service to rugby in South Africa in the past 10 years."
Apart from his 69 Tests and two non-Tests for South Africa, currently the 11th most by any Springbok, Smith also played in 41 matches for the Free State Cheetahs, 32 Super 12 matches for the Cats and 47 Super Rugby matches for the Cheetahs. He played a total of 198 First Class matches throughout his career, which spanned 10 seasons.
Smith made his Test debut on 7 June 2003 against Scotland in Durban and played his last Test on 27 November 2010 against England at Twickenham, where he was named man of the match.
He played in two Rugby World Cup tournaments (2003 and 2007) and was also nominated as the SA Rugby Player of the Year in those seasons.
Comments
ummagumma says...
Great player and will be sorely missed, an absolute line out king and a quality carrier. Huge loss for rugby.
In my watching career, second only to the greatest of them all, Richard Hill, as a blindside.
Posted 19:02 13th February 2013
Voice says...
Honest, no-nonsese,humble, hard working player that always gave his all! His disciplinary record impecable - never took a cheap shot! Achilles is one of those injuries that take a long long time to heal and more often than not they never do!
We will miss you Juan and thanks for all that you gave to SA Rugby and World Rugby!
Posted 18:57 13th February 2013
backnforward says...
Sad...a true competitor who will be missed by all
Posted 18:20 13th February 2013
kaitangsou says...
Eben en Joggie Jansen, Marthinus Theunis Steyn Stofberg, Japie Wessels, Gerrie Sonnekus, Ruben Kruger, Os du Rand, Piet Bester en Andre Bester, Pieter en Helgard Muller, Henry Lem Honiball, Heinrich Brussouw, Andre en AJ Venter, Rassie Erasmus, Naka Drotske, Martiens le Roux, Kabamba Floors, Jaco Reinach, Chris Badenhort..these and many other are the hard men of South African rugby, born or bred in the rugby factory of the Orange Free State...Vrystaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttttttttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 14:34 13th February 2013
Ripzy007 says...
Not a Boks supporter but this is VERY SAD news...Good Luck with the rehab and future endeavours...A great player and competitor...Will be sorely missed in Rugby
Posted 01:23 13th February 2013
Felly says...
Good luck dude!!
Posted 21:25 12th February 2013
boksmashoffice says...
Very sad day fro Bok and world rugby.Juan is a titan. The man is pure class in the way he conducts himself. a big loss. Wouldloved to have seen him be Bok skipper. Thanks for bleeding for the jersey Juan.
Posted 17:42 12th February 2013
5Lock4ward says...
Always a shame to see a greatly talented player go down before his time is truly up. That said Clyde Rathbone went out for a couple of years to heal a 'career ending' injury and is now attempting a comeback. Perhaps Juan Smith could seek out the doctor who took care of Ali Williams' multiple achilles injuries and make a similar return a couple years down the line. Certainly a driven athlete like Juan won't ever get so far out of shape that the return would be impossible.
Posted 15:27 12th February 2013
TVaddict says...
Always sad to hear of players retiring through injury. It seems like there's been so many lately. I wish him well in whatever he decides to do next and hopefully it'll still be in rugby.
Posted 14:17 12th February 2013
RugbyNut says...
A great and special player in a country that has produced so many great players. We will all miss his sublime skills. Good luck for the future Juan and thanks for everything!
Posted 14:04 12th February 2013
martinmarais78 says...
Next Schalk?
Posted 13:52 12th February 2013
APV1 says...
A sad day for world rugby indeed - a proper rugby man.
That said, everyone apart from SA will be sighing with relief..!
Go well, Juan!
Posted 13:48 12th February 2013
carpelone says...
Frazermackie
Lol
Posted 12:09 12th February 2013
melkdave says...
Thinkit was always on the cards he would have to retire.He was /is injured for for so long,it would have taken months for him to get match fit amd back to his best.A sad day for him personnally and SA rugby,as he was a great player,who was also perhaps undervalued.Hope he flourishes in his next endevours,as he will be missed by true rugby fans.
Posted 12:09 12th February 2013
martinmarais78 says...
If I ever travel through Bloemfontein again I will make sure to stop for some boerewors at Juan's butchery! :)
Posted 11:24 12th February 2013
Madman says...
Very sad day for rugby. Good luck in what you do next big man!
Posted 09:01 12th February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
He's such a good bloke! You'd think he was English!
Posted 08:27 12th February 2013
rugbyphile says...
What a sad day--what a champion--
Posted 07:38 12th February 2013
NHsaints says...
This is really bad news for the cheetahs and SA, he was an excellent player, one of the best in world rugby, it'd be a shame to see him go.
Posted 07:32 12th February 2013
Euskadi says...
Was always a fan of this man, hugely physical dominant loose forward in the best of the African mould, as Os du Rant would say, first you see if Juan is fit then you pick the rest of the forwards
Posted 06:40 12th February 2013