Stormers and Springboks centre Juan de Jongh on Monday announced his retirement from professional rugby.
The 35-year-old’s news was confirmed by the Stormers in a post on X, formerly twitter.
The Stormers said: “A DHL Stormers legend bows out. All the best in retirement @JuanDeJongh
and thanks for all you did for this team over the years. #iamastormer #dhldelivers #jubba"
Stormers stalwart
After making his debut for Western Province in 2010, De Jongh would go on to make 73 appearances for the Province over two stints - 2010 to 2017 and again in the 2021 season. De Jongh also notched up 97 caps for the Stormers since 2010. He added another three appearances for the Stormers in his return in 2021 to make it to 100 caps for the Cape side.
He won a number of Currie Cup titles for WP, the highlight being the side’s 2012 victory over the Sharks at Kings Park. In that game he scored a vital try, before performing his signature “Gangnam Style’ celebration.
De Jongh said he still recalls that game fondly: “Very good memories (of the 2012 final) ... I will remember those for a very long time, as it was the first time in 11 years that we brought the Currie Cup home. So, special memories were made in the Shark Tank in Durban.”
On the international stage, De Jongh represented the Blitzboks on the sevens scene, most notably picking up a bronze medal with the team at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
For the Springboks, De Jongh won his first cap in 2010 against Wales in June. He also managed to score an impressive try on debut. He would go on to play 19 Tests for the Springboks, with his final match coming in 2016, with 15 points to his name in the green and gold.