Steven Kitshoff of South Africa celebrates the victory following the World Cup 2023, Final rugby union match between New Zealand (All Blacks) and South Africa (Springboks) on October 28, 2023 at Stade de France in Saint-Denis near Paris, France Steven Kitshoff had the six-and-a-half-hour operation in Stellenbosch on Monday. Photo: Jean Catuffe/DPPI via AFP
Image: Jean Catuffe/DPPI via AFP
Springbok Steven Kitshoff had successful neck surgery on Monday, and the rest of his playing career could be in some doubt.
Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman, said the team had not heard anything official about the return to rugby for Kitshoff.
“Yeah, look, we haven't spoken to the specialist or got any feedback from his doctors. But he went in and just as he came out of surgery,” said Snyman.
“So no update in terms of his situation. The first thing is that we want him to recover and we'll take it from there. Once we've got anything official, we'll definitely make sure everyone knows.”
Kitshoff had the operation in Stellenbosch on Monday.
Kitshoff picked up the injury earlier this year in a Currie Cup match for Western Province against Griquas.
It occurred during a regulation scrum, when Kitshoff said he felt something snap in his neck.
Ahead of the surgery, Kitshoff told Box Office podcast with Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger, about the nerves he was feeling.
“It’s bit of stressful one. It’s such a high area in my neck as well, C1-C2, which is a bit of an issue,” Kitsoff said.
“I just want to get it done, start the rehab process and see what happens after that.”
Talking about the match itself when he sustained the injury, Kitshoff revealed his harrowing ordeal: “It was quite a fright. It happened in the weirdest way, just a normal scrum. I just felt something snap. I’m getting a neck fusion,” Kitshoff said.
“As I’m sitting here, I’m actually quite pain free.”
The 32-year-old was part of both the Springboks squad which won the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup titles.
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