Springboks: Steven Kitshoff reveals why he binned World Cup lucky charm and hopes to remain ‘close to rugby’
Earlier this week, the Stormers and Bok stalwart announced that he cannot continue his career due to the injury he sustained in the Currie Cup match between Western Province and Griquas.
Despite his playing days being cut short at just 33 years old, Kitshoff enjoyed immense success throughout his career and retires with 83 Test caps, including a Springboks record 54 appearances from the bench.
He won two Rugby World Cups with South Africa as well as two Rugby Championships and led his beloved Stormers to a United Rugby Championship (URC) title – their first-ever international club trophy.
What’s next for Steven Kitshoff?
After making the ‘difficult’ decision to end his playing career to preserve his health, Kitshoff is now turning his attention to life after rugby, having already got involved with a few business ventures.
“I’m involved with a couple of projects,” the prop told HOT 102.7.
“I’ve got the family business, me and my brother got a micro-financing business.”
Kitshoff played a pivotal role for the Springboks during the 2019 Rugby World Cup with South Africa’s bench set-up gaining huge praise during the tournament in Japan.
Rassie Erasmus’ use of the bench and the decision to select six forwards and two backs instead of the conventional 5-3 split gained stardom after it was dubbed the ‘Bomb Squad’. Kitshoff and fellow Springbok Malcolm Marx have since created a beer company making use of the term’s popularity and the role they played in it.
The beer is quickly becoming a staple across South Africa but the ex-front row is eyeing up opportunities to stay involved in rugby.
“Myself and Malcolm have got Bomb Squad [beer company] which is taking off very nicely,” he added.
“We have some lekker opportunities in that business but other than that, we’re trying to stay involved with rugby as much I can.
“Either consulting or mentoring or being involved in broadcasting and I would love to stay close to the sport that’s given me so much.”
Ditching the budgie smugglers
Professional athletes are well known for their superstitions and lucky charms and the powerhouse prop known fondly as the ‘Spicy Plum’ is no different.
He revealed in the interview that he would wear the same underwear and socks for matches for extended periods of time but ditched one after the Stormers’ heartbreaking defeat to Munster in the second URC final.
The pair of budgie smugglers that he binned was the same ones that he wore during the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup success in Japan.
“It changes quite often because my thing would be to play with the same socks and same underwear,” he said.
“I had this pair of budgie smugglers in 2019 that I played in when we won the World Cup and then I stuck with it for a very long time.
“Even during the URC and during that season and then we lost the final of the URC to Munster so I threw them away and I got another pair.”
