VIDEO: Where 'Brannas' was when he got Bok callup 

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If Deon Fourie's story has one lesson, it would be that it is never too late to achieve your sporting dream no matter your age.

The 38-year-old was initially overlooked for national honours in his prime playing years representing the Stormers between 2008 and 2014.

He was the captain when Western Province ended their 11-year Currie Cup drought against the Sharks in Durban in 2012 and led his team to another domestic Final a year later at Newlands where the Sharks got one back.

Fourie bid farewell to the blue and white hoops to further his career in France with Lyon after the Super Rugby season in 2014 before moving to the south of France where he represented Grenoble.

When he returned to Cape Town in 2021 to play a mentorship role, he would've never thought in his wildest dreams what would follow.

Fourie became a regular starter for the Cape side and capped his 100th Stormers match off with a player-of-the-match performance in the inaugural United Rugby Championship Final against the Bulls in 2022.

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Later that same season, Fourie received a Springbok callup and made his Test debut against Wales in a 12-13 defeat in Bloemfontein.

He cracked the Boks' 2023 World Cup squad as a loose forward a year later.

The Springboks made the bold decision to have only two specialist hookers in their squad.

When Malcolm Marx got injured during a training session, the responsibility fell on Fourie to make the shift from flank to hooker.

Disaster struck three minutes into the 2023 World Cup Final when Bongi Mbonambi suffered an injury due to a croc-roll by Shannon Frizzell.

Fourie came off the bench and played 77 minutes at hooker and ended up being the on-field captain when the final whistle blew as the Springboks clinched a record fourth World Cup title.

He missed out on Test selection in 2024 and many would have thought he had his last opportunity with the Boks in the 2023 World Cup Final.

The veteran loose forward was a surprise inclusion in Rassie Erasmus' first Springbok alignment camp of 2025 and Fourie himself couldn't believe that he cracked the nod considering his age.

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"It was quite a big surprise for me.

"We just landed in Johannesburg before the Lions game when it was announced.

"We were on the bus when I saw it and I was quite surprised myself.

"I didn't think I'd get the honour again to be invited to an alignment camp.

"Just to be there again and to see everyone and listen to what the plans are lit the fire again.

"Hopefully I can stay in the set-up this year."