Lions forward Ruhan Straeuli calls time on rugby career due to neck injury

The Lions announced the retirement on Monday of Ruhan Straeuli, the son of former Springbok coach and current Lions Rugby Company CEO Rudolph Straeuli, after the 26-year-old back-row forward failed to recover from a neck injury.

"Unfortunately, the playing chapter of my rugby career has ended sooner than expected," Straeuli said in a statement released by the union. 

"I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in my career. It has been an absolute privilege to be able to give my all to the city of Joburg."

The talented Straeuli was in his fourth season of senior rugby with the Lions. He made just two appearances for the Lions this season, both as a substitute in the EPCR Challenge Cup.

He featured prominently in the competition and the URC in his first two campaigns with Ivan van Rooyen’s charges in 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Straeuli was named in the Lions squad for the first time for the Pro14 Rainbow Cup in 2021, and was then included for the Currie Cup campaign that same year. Able to play lock and across the back row, the Glenwood High and Menlopark old boy also featured in the Blue Bulls Under-18 Academy team.

His premature retirement comes as the latest blow to a limping Lions team that will lose talented winger Edwill van der Merwe to the Sharks at the end of the season.

The Joburg team is currently languishing in 13th place in the URC after a recent losing streak. They next face Scarlets at home on Sunday.