Latest news with #Kitshoff
The Citizen
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
OPINION: Springboks in a very healthy state with phenomenal depth
It doesn't matter what matchday-23 coach Rassie Erasmus selects, it's likely to be a well-balanced side, with plenty of experience. No Siya Kolisi, no Pieter-Steph du Toit, no Frans Malherbe, no Steven Kitshoff … no problem. None of these players will feature for the Boks in the team's first two matches this year and in the case of Malherbe, he might not play at all this season, while Kitshoff has in fact retired from rugby. And though it's disappointing that Kitshoff is no longer in the mix and injuries and setbacks cause players to miss out, including Damian Willemse for the whole of last season and Faf de Klerk for a big chunk of it, the reality is the Springboks have got so many quality players in their system it doesn't matter anymore what team Rassie Erasmus puts out. It's been said before, but it's worth saying again: Does Erasmus even know what his strongest team is? That is the beauty of where the Boks are again, two years out from the Rugby World Cup. Besides the obvious first-choice men such as Cheslin Kolbe, Ox Nche and Du Toit, who are the Boks' best fullback, flyhalf, scrumhalf, No 8, lock pairing, tighthead prop, hooker? Springbok rugby has not been in a more healthy state Of course, those players who have been in the Bok set-up for a while now and have tons of experience and have lifted two Webb Ellis Cups, like Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Malcolm Marx and Bongi Mbonambi, to name a few, are still very much in the picture and possibly among the first-choice picks, but will they still be that in two years' time? No one ever questions a Bok team anymore. Ever. Last week's side that faced the Barbarians had a good look about it, this week's team to take on Italy is just as exciting, and so it will be next week and the week after that. And none of those match-23s will be the same. And, no one even bats an eyelid when a new captain is announced. Winning regularly, including two World Cups, has helped Erasmus gain the public's trust, and he can pick just about any team he wants now and rugby fans will believe in it and back it. The Boks could simply not be in a more healthy state.
SowetanLIVE
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SowetanLIVE
Inside Shaka iLembe's intense warrior workout
Two years ago, coach Mubeen Bassa, the founder of Versa Fit Club, left our jaws on the floor when he revealed that he only had 35 days to get Thembinkosi Mthembu, Lemogang Tsipa, and Senzo Radebe into warrior shape for season one of Shaka iLembe. Bassa detailed the vigorous workout routine that resulted in the dramatic physical transformation seen onscreen. Ahead of season two this Sunday, we circled back to Versa Fit Club personal trainers Roan Kitshoff and Nevan Peacock, who got heartthrobs Mthembu, Tsipa, Fanele Zulu, Lungani Mabaso, and Wiseman Mncube into God-like shape. How many days did you have this time? Kitshoff: We had eight weeks to get them ready before shooting started. What was the focus? Kitshoff: It came down to their current physique and the specific role each actor was selected to play. For the older cast members, the goal was to put on a bit more muscle but not to lean them out too much. As for the cast members playing the younger roles, their goal was to put on a bit more muscle, get more toned, and lose fat at the same time. Break down the workout routine for us. Kitshoff: We took into account their lifestyle, how much time they had to train, and what equipment they had access to. Some cast members had very little time available for training, with work commitments taking up long hours. Some of the actors did not have access to training facilities or gyms, so their workout programmes had to be built around home-based training and limited equipment. We developed a training programme of five to six workout days and included cardiovascular or functional training workouts one to two times per week.
The South African
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
BOK BAROMETER: Props pecking order - favourites to start, new-look bomb-squad
In this Bok Barometer series, we take a look at the Springboks current place in the pecking order. Rassie Erasmus has managed to build up tremendous depth in every position in the Springboks squad. Their are at least two to three players capable of starting in each position. If not, more. Let's take a look at the front runners in the Bok front-row (the props) who have propelled themselves up the pecking order. We attempt to enter into the unpredictable, mastery and genuis of Rassie with Kitshoff leaving huge boots to fill… ALSO READ – SPRINGBOKS (SIGNINGS & EXITS): ALL THE MEGA-MONEY MOVES IN AND OUT OF SA Steven Kitshoff served Springboks honour, passion and aplomb. Representing the national team in 83 test matches. Now, the ginger-haired formidable Bok legend has left massive boots to fill. However, their is Ox who has rampaged his way to the top of the pecking order and his name is Retshegofaditswe 'Tshego' Nché. Aka, the 'Ox'. In Kitshoff's abscence, Ox flourished in big test matches against Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. Building on from his monstrous and decisive impact off the bench during the Springboks Rugby World Cup semi-final against the English. Springbok prop Ox Nche to miss the Wales match. Image: SA Rugby website Ox, almost single handledly destroyed the English to inspire a memorable and monumental comeback from 15-6 to propel the Box into the Rugby World Cup final. Since then, he has left opposition scrums in ruins en route to becoming the new favourite to start. Kitshoff has massive boots to fill and it is fitting that an Ox is stepping up, rampaging his way to the top. Meanwhile, Malherbe is the favourite to continue starting in the number three jersey moving forward. The Bok veteran is still in top knick – bringing stability, strength and ensurance on the other side of the scrum. not a conflict between SuperSport and the SABC. Image: Gerhard Duraan / BackpagePix Ultimately, the world-renowned Bok scrum has two engines worth of horsepower with the coveted Bomb squad proving instrumental to the Springboks succuss in recent years. So, it is fitting for Kitsie, one of the 'founders'/original members of the Bok squad to pave the way for the next generation. Furthermore, competition for spots on the coveted 'Bok Bomb' squad is hotter than ever. Gerhard Steenakamp is the favourite to don the number 17 jersey. The versatile Bulls powerhouse has consist. Meanwhile, Bok veteran Vincent Koch will be in the picture until he decides to hang up his boots. Additionally, Wilco Louw has destroyed every opposition scrum for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship. Likewise, Thomas du Toit has done the same in England. The Bok scrum is the most dominant and the bomb squad is the most explosive in world rugby. SA Rugby is in good hands propelled by beast leagues, power – good luck to opposition scrums. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Washington Post
25-02-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
South Africa prop Steven Kitshoff retires from all rugby because of a serious neck injury
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — South Africa prop Steven Kitshoff announced his retirement from all rugby Tuesday because of a serious neck injury that he said in an interview last year left him 'two millimeters' from death. Kitshoff made the announcement in a statement from his South African domestic team, the Stormers.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
South Africa World Cup winner Kitshoff retires
South Africa's double World Cup-winning prop Steven Kitshoff has been forced to retire from rugby after suffering a serious neck news was confirmed in a statement released by his Stormers team on 33-year-old sustained the injury in September 2024 while playing in a Currie Cup match for Western Province South Africa and subsequently revealed that he was "two millimetres from death".Capped 138 times by the Springboks, Kitshoff played for Ulster during the 2023-24 season before returning to home side was part of South Africa's World Cup winning teams in Japan in 2019 and France in 2023."After undergoing initial conservative therapy, the decision was taken to have stabilising surgery," read the statement from the Stormers."Following an extensive rehabilitation process he has been left with significantly reduced rotation of his neck and the advice from a specialist neurosurgeon was that there would be a high risk of another injury should he continue playing."Kitshoff's distinguished career began with the Stormers as an 18-year-old, the front-rower making his debut for the club in 2011, before collecting his first international cap five years spent two seasons with French club Bordeaux, in addition to his spell with Ulster."It is obviously incredibly disappointing for my career to end in this way, but unfortunately the risk to my wellbeing was simply too high," he said.
