‘It was quite a fright’ – Springbok Steven Kitshoff opens up on the neck injury that could end his decorated career
Springboks front-row Steven Kitshoff.
Springboks prop Steven Kitshoff has opened up on the severe neck injury that is threatening to end his rugby career altogether.
Kitshoff’s last game for South Africa was the Rugby World Cup final after which he struggled with injury, firstly a knee issue which cut short his time at Ulster then the current neck injury.
The location is the issue
The double World Cup winner was making his injury return with Western Province when he suffered the neck injury and speaking on the Boks Office Podcast, Kitshoff detailed his concerns with the situation just before he has his operation.
“It’s a bit of a stressful one because it’s such a high area of my neck – C1 and C2 – which is a bit of an issue,” he said.
“I’ve been through this the last couple of weeks building up to the operation. Basically now I just want to get it done and start the rehab process and see what happens after that.”
The loosehead revealed that the injury did not happen as a result of a collapsed scrum.
“It was quite a fright,” he said. “It happened in the weirdest way. Just a normal scrum, and everyday type of thing, and then I just felt something snap at the back.
“Mine was just a normal scrum. The scrum didn’t even collapse. In the process of the scrum, I just felt something go.”
Change of guard
There are no guarantees that Kitshoff will return to the field at all let alone make a comeback for the Springboks.
In his absence, Ox Nche has well and truly taken over Kitshoff’s spot in the starting XV with Gerhard Steenekamp of the Bulls taking up the role of second-choice loosehead.
Many are outraged that Nche did not receive a nomination for World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year after a commanding season in 2024. While the prop did not get recognition three of his teammates, Eben Etzebeth, Cheslin Kolbe and Pieter-Steph du Toit, were all nominated for the award alongside Ireland skipper Caelan Doris.
READ MORE: Springboks: Ox Nche update ahead of Wales after ‘deep cut injury’ against England
