'I had to do this': Bok opens up on forced retirement

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok Raymond Rhule shared his thoughts after being forced to retire from the game.

Rhule, who represented La Rochelle since 2020, has not played competitively for 10 months due to a knee injury and his retirement was confirmed by the French Top 14 club this week.

Declared unfit for high-level sport, Rhule is “medically obliged to put an end to his career and his maritime adventure”, the club said in a statement.

“I had to do this. I haven’t really been on the pitch for two years,” said Rhule in a video released by his club.

“I’m a competitor. For me, being in a team means making a difference.

“So, it was better for me to say stop.”

🫡 5 saisons, 82 matches, 𝟮 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲́𝗲𝗻𝘀, 15 essais et des actions de classe mondiale…

On ne t’oubliera jamais ici Ray’ 💛#MerciRay | #FievreSR

— Stade Rochelais (@staderochelais) February 18, 2025

The 32-year-old, a World Under-20 champion, won seven caps for the Springboks in 2016, scoring one try against Argentina, before leaving the Cheetahs to join Grenoble in 2018.

He moved to La Rochelle two years later and played in both of their Champions Cup Final wins over Leinster in 2022, when he scored an early try, and 2023 when he played on the wing.

A starter in the Top 14 Final defeat against Toulouse in 2023, Rhule then suffered a series of injuries, notably to his knee and Achilles, playing just two matches in a year and a half.

🥲 Arrivé au Stade Rochelais en 2020, l’ailier sud-africain, 𝗥𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗵𝘂𝗹𝗲, est contraint de mettre un terme à sa carrière, touché au genou.

Il sera mis à l’honneur et célébré, samedi, après la rencontre face au Racing 92 ! 💛#MerciRay | #FievreSR pic.twitter.com/cilhxP7LxF

— Stade Rochelais (@staderochelais) February 18, 2025