Former Springbok centre Juan de Jongh makes retirement call

De Jongh, born in Wellington, rose through the ranks of the Western Province Rugby Academy and broke through as a key member of the 2009 Currie Cup-winning side.

After Jean de Villiers' retirement, De Jongh made the 12 jersey his own at club and international level where he made his Springbok debut in a Test against Wales in Cardiff in June 2010. The midfielder impressed on debut scoring a breathtaking try. A week before, he was part of the Stormers team that lost to the Bulls in the Super 14 final by 25-17 - as a member of arguably one of the greatest WP sides of all time.

De Jongh was part of the South African Sevens team that won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. In May 2017 it was announced he would be joining Aviva Premiership side Wasps for the 2017/18 season. He spent four years at the English Premiership outfit. He returned to the Cape in 2021 but saw his career curtailed by Covid-19.

He played 19 Tests between 2010 and 2016 and last played for the Boks when they were thumped 57-15 by the All Blacks in Durban.

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