{
  "id": 5974145,
  "title": "Lood de Jager on playing again after health scare: ‘Rugby is important, but it’s just a game’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/lood-de-jager-on-playing-again-after-health-scare-rugby-is-important",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-06T12:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/rugby/lood-de-jager-open-returning-south-africa/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South African rugby player Lood de Jager, a 33-year-old lock, has expressed his intention to continue playing rugby and hinted at a possible career in coaching after retiring from the sport. De Jager, who earned his 76th Test cap during the Springboks' 29-24 win against the All Blacks, is feeling fit and strong after battling with pericarditis, a heart condition that forced him to miss the 2023 World Cup. He emphasized that while rugby is important to him, it is just a game. De Jager is likely to return to South Africa after his five-year deal with the Wild Knights expires next year, but has not yet made any final decisions regarding his future. He expressed his willingness to play rugby as long as he can, with his coaches ultimately deciding when it is time to retire. The Springbok player also named two potential successors to the No 5 lock position for the national team: Emile van Heerden, a Sharks player of the year, and 22-year-old rising Bulls star JF van Heerden, who is set to replace Bok Ruan Nortjé this URC season.",
  "summary": "Lood de Jager is fully focused on the 2027 World Cup. After that, and his Japanese contract ending, he may return to SA shores.",
  "key_points": [
    "Lood de Jager plans to continue playing rugby.",
    "He battled pericarditis, a heart condition, last year.",
    "De Jager considers rugby just a game."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}