Three Springbok retirements you could see in 2025

03/24/2025 08:34 AM

Over the last 18 months, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made it clear that they cannot allow sentimentality to overtake practicality when they plan towards the next World Cup.

As younger players are increasingly integrated into the squad, it stands to reason that some veterans will begin to fall by the wayside, and this year could perhaps mark their final run at an international level.

Could these Springboks retire after the 2025 Test season?

Willie le Roux 

The veteran fullback is set to reach 100 caps this year, and what a deserved achievement that will be, but it can’t be overlooked that Le Roux will turn 36-years-old in August.

With talented youngsters such as Damian Willemse and Aphelele Fassi continuing to make big strides in their careers, Le Roux has already primarily begun to play a mentorship role in recent times.

Le Roux continues to make an impact at the Bulls, but it really wouldn’t be all the surprising if this ends up being his final year at international level.

Trevor Nyakane

It already began to seem as if the affable forward was being phased out of the Test scene last year, and after recently picking up a serious injury, it's been confirmed that he won't be available this season.

Unfortunately it does seem that the powerhouse prop's days in the green and gold are behind him, but he will forever hold a special legacy in Springbok rugby.

Deon Fourie

The 38-year-old recently admitted that he was caught by surprise when the Springboks invited him to the first alignment camp of the year, and it has reignited his desire to remain available to the national side.

The Stormers veteran has defied father time in recent years, but when one considers that there are talented young loose forwards such as Phepsi Buthelezi and Ruan Venter coming through the ranks, it does seem almost certain that Fourie will slip into international retirement after this year.

CAREFUL CONSIDERATION

Addressing the topic of player's ages and succession planning, Erasmus did make some interesting comments during a press conference earlier this month.

"In the past, we never looked for the World Cup in our planning," he began.

"We're actually doing it a little bit now; people are starting to put brackets with ages next to the players' names, we do it as well for our succession planning. We're thinking we know when some players are going to give up or will no longer be able to keep up anymore.

"But you can't plan a guy's career just around a World Cup, because if he's still good enough and he's still number one, two or three in his position, but he might retire in 2026, it would be very unfair not to pick him anymore just because his career ends in 2026.

"So, it's a bit of both. If you look at that squad depth, or chart and succession planning, I think there's a nice spread of older guys in a red column, amber guys between 25 and 30 and guys who are 25 and younger.

"I think there's a nice spread of guys who are 84 in total."

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS CHANGING OF THE GUARD?

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