South Africa’s two-time World Cup winning prop Steven Kitshoff forced to retire after neck injury left him ‘two millimetres from death’

South Africa prop Steven Kitshoff has been forced to retire from the game because of a serious neck problem.

Kitshoff, a World Cup winner in 2019 and 2023, underwent surgery after sustaining the injury on Curry Cup duty for Western Province in September.

The 33-year-old revealed in a subsequent interview that he was told by a specialist that ‘I was two millimetres away from catastrophe, from death’.

Despite extensive post-operation rehabilitation he has been left with significantly reduced rotation in his neck and has been advised that there would be a high risk of sustaining another injury if he played again.

‘It is obviously incredibly disappointing for my career to end in this way, but unfortunately the risk to my wellbeing was simply too high,’ the 83-cap international said.

‘I really wanted to finish my story with the DHL Stormers on the pitch and gave the rehab and comeback the best shot I could, but it was not to be.’

Kitshoff was a member of South Africa’s World Cup winning squads in 2019 and 2023

‘After undergoing initial conservative therapy, the decision was taken to have stabilising surgery,’ his Stormers team said.

‘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.’

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus said: ‘He is a true team man, and he earned enormous respect from his team-mates and the coaches with his high work ethic, drive to be the best he can on the field, and his down-to-earth nature.

‘He will always remain a warrior and fine ambassador of what the Springboks stand for, and we wish him luck as he begins this new chapter in his life.’