SPORTS FEATURE
HOW HAS RETIREMENT CHANGED YOUR LIFE? One of the biggest changes has been managing my own calendar and understanding where I need to be. Post-rugby, I had to figure out how to spend my time building new businesses and brands, and what I wanted to do in the media.
Whether it’ s broadcasting with SuperSport or running my podcast, these things have stood out for me as something I really enjoy. I never thought that I would do them after rugby, but they’ re quickly becoming my favourite part of this new chapter.
WHO IS STEVEN KITSHOFF AWAY FROM RUGBY AND WHAT KEEPS YOU BUSY TODAY? Outside the game, I’ d like to think I’ m a good husband and a good friend. I enjoy a round of golf and a couple of cold beers.
WHO HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR CAREER AND WHAT LESSONS STILL GUIDE YOU TODAY? I’ ve been fortunate to play alongside guys I idolised 15 years ago. When I started at the Stormers, my rugby and childhood heroes were guys like Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger, and Tiaan Liebenberg. Those were some of my biggest heroes growing up. I really enjoyed the way Schalk and Jean went about their business.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ANY YOUNG PLAYERS WHO ARE HOPING TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS? They need to understand the amount of effort and hard work needed to become a professional athlete. Beyond that hard work, there are also many sacrifices they’ ll need to make. IB
“ The statistics at the end of an international career are all fine and well. But, for me … the only thing I will ever be proud enough to say and just leave it at that, is that I was a Springbok. I wore the same green-and-gold jersey that Paul Roos and those early pioneers of our game wore. A jersey that always meant far more than just what took place between four white chalk lines on a field of grass. A jersey that represents the soul of South Africa. And I wore it with pride,” Kitshoff writes in his book.
BEYOND THE SCRUM
COFFEE OR BRAAI? Braai.
FAVOURITE RUGBY STADIUM YOU’ VE PLAYED IN? Newlands.
ONE TEAMMATE WHO ALWAYS KEPT THE DRESSING ROOM LAUGHING? Damien de Allende.
IF YOU WEREN’ T A RUGBY PLAYER, WHAT CAREER WOULD YOU HAVE CHOSEN? Probably business.
ONE WORD THAT DESCRIBES LIFE AFTER RUGBY. Challenging.
78 INBOUND SA / SEPTEMBER 2026