Watch: Springbok ‘Kitsie’ bids farewell to rugby in new memoir
A two-time World Cup winner reflected on a career that made him a Springbok, the Bomb Squad and a neck injury that brought his playing days to an unexpected end.
Former Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff has opened up about his career, forced retirement and life after rugby in his new memoir, Kitsie.
Kitshoff launched the book in conversation with journalist Michael Vlismas at Exclusive Books in Rosebank Mall on September 22, reports Rosebank Killarney Gazette.
The memoir charts his journey from a schoolboy rugby player in the Western Cape to Stormers captain and two-time Rugby World Cup winner with the Springboks.
It also reflects on the neck injury that forced him to retire from professional rugby and his search for purpose after the game.
Known as ‘Kitsie’ and ‘Spicy Plum’, the former prop writes about his experiences in the Springboks, including the ‘bomb squad’ strategy, his leadership journey and the challenges of walking away from rugby.
Preserving memories
Kitshoff said writing the memoir gave him an opportunity to preserve the memories and lessons from his playing career.
“It was a way to document my memories and stories, which will hopefully inspire the next person. The book is also a nice way to bid farewell to my career on the field as a player,” he said.
Watch video here:
From loose forward to front row
His sporting journey began in primary school, although he did not initially see himself as a front-row player.
“I started as a loose forward in primary school, which was my principal’s instruction. He asked for my position to change to the front row and said I’d have a career one day. I didn’t want to be there; I wanted to be at the back of the scrum because I enjoyed the physicality, carrying the ball, and the rest became history,” Kitshoff said.
From there, his career took him to the Stormers and eventually the Springboks, with whom he was part of the teams that won the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups under Siya Kolisi’s captaincy.
Kitsie is available online and at Exclusive Books stores nationwide.
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Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
