Steven Kitshoff's disturbing confession: 'I was two millimeters from death'

Two-time Springbok world champion Steven Kitshoff has revealed the seriousness of his recent neck injury.

“Pop, pop, pop…” When Steven Kitshoff heard those three sharp cracking sounds, he had no idea what was happening inside his body.

“It was just another scrum, then three cracking noises – pop, pop, pop,” he recalled. “I kept playing, thinking it was a pulled muscle. But now I know: I was two millimeters away from catastrophe, from death.”

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The incident occurred in early September during a Currie Cup match between Western Province and Griquas. The 32-year-old, who has earned 83 caps for South Africa, had just returned from a knee injury that had sidelined him from international duty all year.

“I was really scared,” he told the Boks Office show on RugbyPass TV. “It happened in the strangest way. It was a normal scrum, nothing unusual. The scrum didn’t even collapse, but during it, I felt something crack at the back of my neck, like something had come loose.”

On November 20, Kitshoff underwent major neck surgery that lasted six hours. Shortly afterward, he reassured fans with a message on Instagram:

“Excited to share that my surgery was a huge success! A huge thank you to my incredible doctors and nurses for their exceptional care, and to all my family, friends, and loyal supporters—your support means the world to me! I have a long road to recovery ahead of me, but I am confident for the future. Trust me to keep you updated on my progress and don’t believe any other source. Here’s to recovery!”

Speaking to the South African outlet Rapport over the weekend, Kitshoff revealed the seriousness of the injury.

“The first thing the specialist said to me was: ‘Listen, you’re lucky we didn’t bury you this week.’ The vertebra that moved was very close to my brain canal. Without the surgery, I’d never have been able to play rugby again,” he said.

The timeline for his recovery remains unclear, but Kitshoff hopes to be back playing golf by February.

A starter in the Springboks’ World Cup final against New Zealand in October, Kitshoff previously played for Ulster, with his last match coming against Clermont in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals last season.

Looking ahead, Kitshoff remains determined but pragmatic.

“I’ll see the specialist in January to assess my recovery. If my neck holds up, I’ll go all the way,” he said. “If I have to retire, I’ll be satisfied with what I’ve achieved. But I’m not done. I’ve always been a warrior for my team. Rugby is a dangerous sport, but I’ll give everything I have because I’m fighting for my team.”