HE WAS only a 20-year-old, Frans Steyn, when he tore through England’s back-line in the pool stage of the 2007 World Cup. He would be called on at inside-centre in that tournament, after Jean de Villiers suffered an injury against Samoa.
His performances throughout that tournament still burn bright in the memory. It was clear from the moment that Steyn pulled on the Bok jersey that South Africa’s next rugby superstar had arrived. Far less believable was that 16 years later he might look ahead to what could be his fourth and final Rugby World Cup.
In 2019, Steyn became the second Springbok to win two World Cups, after legendary prop Os du Randt. He lifted rugby’s most cherished trophy at 20, was part of the squad in 2011, and in different circumstances would have travelled to England in 2015. In a spectacular comeback, he lifted the trophy again at 32.
Last year Steyn made a comment that as long as he was able to play ‘angry’ he would not retire. Asked about how he has maintained such a strong resonance with the game for so long, Steyn responds: “The passion doesn’t die but at some point in your career you realise that rugby is not the only thing. You get married, have kids and realise rugby isn’t everything.
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Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Rugby World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
"I remember getting eating guidelines for Christmas Day!"
CHRISTMAS, the most wonderful time of the year? Not if you’re a professional rugby player it’s not.
Rugby firsts
FIRST RUGBY match you went to? I would have gone to RODNEY PARADE to watch a Newport game when I was about six years old, so around 1992 or 1993.
THE JOHN FISHER STATE SCHOOL RUGBY FESTIVAL
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The Making Of Robbie Henshaw
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RG SNYMAN
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BENHARD JANSE VAN RENSBURG
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"Welsh rugby treats players like pieces of meat, not assets"
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The Exeter Chiefs hooker talks Tarmac, time travel and Tyson Fury
