'There's light at the end of the tunnel': Bok prop recharged after tough time

PARIS, FRANCE:  Bulls and Springbok prop Gerhard Steenekamp’s return to the pitch could not have come at a better time, with Ox Nche’s injury, but there were some dark moments during his recovery.

The saying goes ‘one’s misfortune is another’s opportunity’ and in the case of Springbok looseheads at the moment, that is precisely the case.

Fortunately, Steenekamp has five United Rugby Championship games for the Bulls under his belt before joining the Boks on tour. He was sidelined for almost six months due to a serious knee injury.

He finally made his return to the pitch in September in the Bulls’ opening match of the URC against Ospreys at Loftus Versfeld.

The 28-year-old underwent surgery after the Boks’ 2024 end-of-year tour to clean up cartilage in his knee, but complications with infection extended his recovery period.

Steenekamp was like a duck in water and all smiles back in the Springbok squad in London last week ahead of the game against Japan.

It was a far cry from a few months ago when he went through some dark days during his recovery period.

“You must take it for what it is, you can’t control stuff like that, and as soon as I got my head wrapped around that, it was easier.

“There was no long-term damage to the knee, and I am back to full fitness.

“I can honestly say I got a new perspective on rugby,” the friendly prop told Rugby365 last week.

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“It’s such a big part of my life, and you start to take things for granted.

“Suddenly it gets taken away from you, and then you realise how badly you want it.

“But after some quality time with family and friends, I feel recharged and ready.

“To be back with the Springboks means so much. This is an incredible environment, and as soon as you leave, the only thing you want to do is come back.

“When I was in the hospital, I just kept thinking there is a light at the end of the tunnel, just keep working,” Steenekamp reflected.

In 2024, Steenekamp featured in 10 of the 13 Springbok Tests, and this year he missed out on the first 10.

His last Test was against Wales in Cardiff in 2024 before he featured off the bench against Japan at Wembley last weekend.