Ex-Springboks star reveals how ‘constant turmoil’ forced him into retirement call
Springboks and Bulls centre Jan Serfontein has been forced into retirement.
Former Springboks and Bulls centre Jan Serfontein has opened up on the internal struggle he experienced before eventually deciding to call time on his career.
Serfontein initially hit the headlines in South Africa as a schoolboy player before playing a leading role for his country’s U20 team that won the Junior World Championship on home soil in 2012.
He made his Currie Cup bow for the Bulls later that year before also debuting for the Pretoria-based franchise in Super Rugby in 2013.
Later that year, Serfontein was withdrawn from the Junior Springboks team in order to make his senior debut under Heyneke Meyer in a mid-year international against Italy in Durban.
Also shone for Montpellier
Serfontein made 35 Test appearances for South Africa, the last of which was in 2017, before making the move to Montpellier, who he represented over 140 times, and he won Top 14 and Challenge Cup titles with the French club.
He rejoined the Bulls ahead of the 2024/25 season, but his homecoming season was hampered by a significant knee (MCL) injury sustained in April.
The 33-year-old suffered a setback on his return from injury which led to his retirement and now he has revealed the agony he underwent before eventually deciding to hang up his boots.
“One side of me constantly told me: ‘Jan, you can’t stop.’ The other side said: ‘It’s time to finish!’ It gnawed at me,” Serfontein told Rapport.
Although he still had two years remaining on his Bulls contract, Serfontein revealed that he could no longer meet the demands which come with professional rugby.
Former Springboks star announces retirement amid the most injury-hit season of his career
‘There were the expectations that I can’t stop’
“There was this constant turmoil,” he said. “I had this pressure and thought: ‘What will people say if I retire at 31 or 32 years old?’ There were the expectations that I can’t stop.
“However, it was so difficult for me to continue. Lately it was a daily mental and physical challenge just to get through a training session.
“I just decided I couldn’t continue like this for another two years. Then I’m not being honest with myself. I’m not satisfied with myself that I can’t play and train full out like I would like to.”
Serfontein also sustained a neck injury recently which forced him to think about his life after rugby.
“I asked myself if it’s still worth it to put my body through this,” he said.
“I have two little daughters. I want to play tennis with them someday. I want to run with them. I want to chase and catch them.
“I still want to play a lot with them.”