Canadian rugby great retireses after 16 years on team

After arriving in Canada with his family from South Africa in 2003, DTH van der Merwe wasted little time hooking up with the Regina Rogues rugby club.

The 17-year-old promptly enrolled and played two games for the club one day after entering the country.

“As soon as I started doing a bit of homework on Canadian rugby, my allegiance switched immediately to wanting to become Canadian-qualified and play for Canada,” he recalled in an interview.

South Africa’s loss proved to be Canada’s gain.

Van der Merwe went on to play 61 times for Canada and became the country’s all-time leading try-scorer with 38. He played in four World Cups, captained his country five times and dazzled spectators on many more occasions with his marauding runs down the wing.

The 33-year-old danger man called time on his international career Thursday.

“I believe it’s time to sign off and let someone else fill that jersey and live that dream,” he said in a social media posting. “Thank you Canada.”

Van der Merwe scored many highlight-reel tries but the best may have come at the 2015 World Cup when he combined with Ciaran Hearn for a spectacular score against Italy that saw the winger fend off a string of would-be tacklers deep in the Canadian end after an Italy kickoff.

Van der Merwe had seen the Italians were narrow on their kickoff chase and told then-coach Kieran Crowley about the possibilities down the flank. Then he executed the vision.

It speaks volumes that while van der Merwe calls it his favourite try, he remembers the result more — Italy rallied to win 23-18.

He points to Canada’s 25-20 victory over Tonga at the 2011 World Cup as a career highlight. It was his only win in four trips to the tournament.

Canada’s recent World Cup campaign in Japan was cut short as Typhoon Hagibis forced the cancellation of its final group game against Namibia on Oct. 13.

Van der Merwe will continue to play club rugby. He has one year left on his contract with the Glasgow Warriors and says he will look to keep playing after the season.

“A top-class player, a topclass finisher,” said Canada coach Kingsley Jones.