Fantastic Mr Brits can play on for one more year

HAVING retired from club rugby, only to be called up by the Springboks two weeks later, Schalk Brits is facing a dilemma.

Rassie Erasmus is offering him the carrot of being part of the squad at next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan and there is talk that my former Saracens teammate could be persuaded to play for another season. For Schalk, it’s a wonderful problem to have, and I wish I had had that dilemma when I called time on my playing career.

Schalk has come off a really good season with Saracens and he was a big part of a very successful Premiership campaign. Physically, the 37-year-old is still in brilliant shape and Erasmus has stated that he feels Brits can play on until at least the age of 38. If he’s managed as well as he was at Saracens, there is no reason he can’t play for a further season.

However, the big question is as to where he would want to continue his rugby career at club level. It would be great if he could just play international rugby for a year but the premise is that you go and play club rugby somewhere. With that comes the full-on, 24/7 nature of training and preparing yourself for matches.

It all comes down to the individual and the hunger he has to continue playing professionally. Schalk will know in his heart, from a physical and mental point of view, whether it’s time to hang up his boots (again) or crack on.

If your country comes knocking and the senior national coach wants to back you for another year, it’s difficult to say no, with the World Cup on the horizon. By all accounts, it would be easier to play rugby for a further year than undertake a master’s degree in business at Oxford. Schalla will probably be the oldest student in the world by the time he gets it done!

He is rumoured to have received offers from clubs in England and France. However, having played for nine years at Saracens, it would be strange if he pops up at another English club.

Schalk will speak to the right people and have a sit-down with Rassie post-tour and then make the ultimate decision. He is juggling a few balls at the moment and, my sense is that, he is still to decide his future.