Jean de Villiers retires from international rugby

Springbok captain Jean de Villiers today announced his retirement from international rugby.

“When I got injured yesterday and I left the field, I knew that I had played my last Test for South Africa. Injuries are part of rugby and I’ve had my fair share, so by now I know how to cope with them. It’s very sad, but life goes on – I need to take it all in and move forward.

“The last time I got injured in a World Cup match and had to go home, was in 2007, also against Samoa and that finished well for the Boks, so hopefully it will happen again.

“I was quite sad on the one hand when I came off the field, as I knew I won’t get the opportunity to play for my country again. Having played for South Africa for 13 years, I’ve been fortunate to experience so many great things and I got to know so many good friends, but you never think it would end like this.

“It has happened now and I’ll be eternally grateful for the time I’ve had in the Springbok jersey. I would like to wish the team all the very best and as a former Springbok, I’m now their number one supporter.

“They still have a massive game this weekend, and I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me but rather to focus on the task at hand against Scotland.

“In Heyneke, they have a wonderful coach who knows what it takes to succeed, and who has given me the opportunity to lead my country for the last four years. I will be eternally grateful to him.”

“Without my family it would not have made it to where I am today. Probably my favourite moment as a Springbok was my 101st Test, at Newlands, with my two daughters in my arms as we took to the field. We recorded a brilliant victory against Australia, I was fortunate to score two tries and afterwards I could play with my children on the pitch.

“But there were many, many moments in my career that I will look back on with fondness. The same goes for all the wonderful friends I’ve made and people I’ve met. I’ve had a blessed career and I will be forever grateful for that.”

Coach Heineke Meyer paid tribute to the man he entrusted with the Bok captaincy.

“Jean is a true ambassador for South Africa and a person everyone in our country can be immensely proud of. The way in which he never gave up fighting to overcome his last serious knee injury reminded me again how much of a warrior he is and how highly he regarded the Springbok jersey.

“He will go down as one of the greatest Springboks ever and, in my eyes, he is probably one of the best captains in the history of world rugby, who always put the team first and gave his time for any player, young or old without ever changing who he is.

“To see the emotions in the team room when he said his good byes to his team-mates made me realise how well-liked he is, by every person in this squad, but also most other people in the world-wide rugby fraternity.

“Jean enriched my life and I hold him in very high regard, as person and rugby player. Rugby will be poorer without Jean de Villiers”.

Jean de Villiers – Career Timeline

1999 – [18] Paarl Gim 1st XV / WP Craven Week / SA Schools / SA U19
2000 – [19] SA U19
2001 – [20] Western Province / SA U21
2002 – [21] Springboks / Western Province / SA U21 / Springbok Sevens
2003 – [22] Western Province
2004 – [23] Springboks / Western Province /
2005 – [24] Springboks / Western Province / Stormers
2006 – [25] Springboks / Stormers
2007 – [26] Springboks / Stormers / RWC Winner
2008 – [27] Springboks / Western Province / Stormers / SA Player of Year / Players’ Player of Year
2009 – [28] Springboks / Munster / Stormers
2010 – [29] Springboks / Munster / Western Province
2011 – [30] Springboks / Western Province / Stormers
2012 – [31] Springboks (Captain) / Western Province / Stormers
2013 – [32] Springboks (Captain) / Western Province / Stormers / SA Rugby Player of Year
2014 – [33] Springboks (Captain) / Stormers
2015 – [34] Springboks (Captain)

Jean de Villiers – Stats

Born: 24 February 1981 in Paarl, Western Cape
Education: Paarl Gymnasium and Stellenbosch University
Provincial career: Western Province (2001-05, 2008, 2010-13) – 50 matches, 30 tries
Super Rugby career: Stormers (2005-09, 2011-14) – 105 matches, 28 tries
International career: South Africa (2002, 2004-14): 109 Tests, 27 tries
Other teams: SA Schools (1999); South Africa Under-19 (1999-2000); South Africa Under-21 (2001-02); Springbok Sevens (2002); Munster (2009-10)
Springbok win ratio: W71 L35 D3
Honours: SA Rugby Player of the Year (2008 and 2013); Players’ Player of the Year (2008); SA Rugby Player of the Year nominee (2005); Super 14 Player of Year nominee (2008)
Shares record for most Tests as a Springbok centre combination with Jaque Fourie (29)
Most capped Springbok centre (94 Tests in this position)
54th Springbok captain when he was appointed by Heyneke Meyer in June 2012
Family: Wife (Marlie), three children (Layli, Lana and Luca), parents (André and Louise), brother (Andre-Louis) with whom he played for the SA Under-19 team in 1999