Lood de Jager: The Springbok giant who has learned to treasure every minute
Springbok lock Lood de Jager has opened up about the heart issue that kept him out of the last World Cup.
Lood de Jager, the towering lock, should have likely been a Springbok centurion by now. However, the 33-year-old has just 76 Test caps due to numerous injuries. De Jager made his debut as a 21-year-old in 2014 and has only played a few Tests since then. Injuries have robbed him of almost two full years of his career, with one particularly devastating setback being pericarditis in the lead-up to the 2023 World Cup.
This left him unable to exercise for four months, feeling breathless even when walking up stairs. De Jager acknowledges that his career has been cut short by injuries and health issues, but he remains grateful and appreciative of every opportunity to play. He recognizes that the 2023 World Cup could be his final chapter in international rugby.
Despite his age, De Jager is excited to be part of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series, especially Test matches against the All Blacks. He emphasizes that these moments hold great significance, not only for the players but also for the fans. De Jager is particularly proud of his partnership with Eben Etzebeth, who together have started in 43 Tests, making it the second-longest partnership in the Springbok second-row.
Looking ahead, De Jager is already considering the future and has his eyes on young locks Emile van Heerden and JF van Heerden, both promising future stars for South Africa.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
