RUGBY GIANT CALLS TIME
Bok wing wonder unlaces his boots as he bows out
SOUTH Africa’s record tryscorer Bryan Habana announced yesterday he was hanging up his boots after a glittering career at the end of his French Top 14 club Toulon’s season.
In an emotional post on Instagram the veteran wing, who turns 35 in June, said: “The inevitable moment has come knocking on my door and I’ve welcomed it in for a drink.”
Knee-injury victim Habana, who last played for Toulon in April 2017, added: “It’s been more than a year of hoping, trying, pushing and willing to get back on the field for one last time, to taste the sweet victory or encounter that gut-wrenching despair.
“...But it’s unfortunately just not to be. I, like most, would have liked my career to have ended differently, but sometimes things don’t turn out quite the way we hope for.”
Habana arrived at Toulon for the 2013-2014 season, playing in two victorious European Cup teams as well as collecting a Top 14 title.
With 124 Springbok caps he is second in the all-time list only to Victor Matfield, but holds his country’s record of 67 Test tries.
He played a critical role in South Africa’s 2007 World Cup triumph.
Habana has struggled to force his way back into the Toulon side after undergoing knee surgery last year.
He told his Instagram followers: “To try and sum up the past 16 years and how quickly they’ve flown by or even begin to describe how amazing the journey has been is impossible.”
He expressed his thanks to everyone, from his family and friends, to his coaches and teammates, “but most of all to rugby, because for me it truly is a game made in heaven”.
“We have been privileged to have witnessed the career of Bryan Habana, who will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the great legends of Springbok rugby,” SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said in a statement.
Continued Alexander: “During a career that spanned more than a decade and a half, he stood out as one of the most professional players ever to don the Springbok jersey, and over the years Bryan has been central to many of the most memorable occasions in the era of professional rugby.
“We will never forget every time he delighted us by crossing the tryline or putting in yet another bonecrunching tackle, but those close to him will also remember the Bryan that was a true professional, always going about his task giving 100%.”
Career highlights:
• Became the first South African to reach 50 Test tries when he scored twice against Samoa in June 2013.
• Fourth Springbok to reach 100 Test caps, against Australia in Perth in 2014, behind Percy Montgomery, John Smit and Victor Matfield.
• Scored the most Vodacom Super Rugby tries by any South African.
• Played 123 Tests on the wing and once at centre.
• Four tour matches for South Africa and three matches for the Barbarians.
• Holds the record for the most career tries in the Castle Rugby Championship (21).
• Honours: SA Rugby Player of the Year (2012, 2007 and 2005); Young Player of the Year (2004); World Rugby Player of the Year (2007); Vodacom Super Rugby Player of the Tournament (2005); SuperSport Try of the Year (2005, Vodacom Bulls vs Blues in Pretoria; 2007, Vodacom Bulls vs Cell C Sharks in the Final in Durban; and 2012, South Africa vs New Zealand in Dunedin).
• Scored a record-equalling eight tries during RWC 2007.
• Equalled Jonah Lomu’s record of 15 tries in all RWC games in 2015.