Pieter-Steph du Toit Biography

Pieter-Steph du Toit, a player that emulates a freight train in both engine and force, is one of the hardest working Springboks to have donned the green and gold jersey.

His hard work was matched by equally tough setbacks, some that may have been a wrap on the careers of players lacking his ambition. But nothing would keep the bounce out of this Springbok’s step.

It all started for the Springbok flanker generations ago when his grandfather, Pieter-Steph du Toit 5th, put on the Springbok jersey. His efforts in the green and gold influenced the 7th generation du Toit to wish upon the stars. Little did he know that he would end up among them, as his grandfather has.

The road to stardom has been an arduous one for the enterprising forward. He was never a highly regarded player whilst a scholar, but managed to get scouted in his final year after putting on a solid performance. This landed him a contract with the Sharks in 2012, where he stayed until 2015.

The two meter tall Springbok made his debut for South Africa in 2013 when he was just 21 years old. The then youngster came off the bench to impact a 24 - 15 victory against Wales.

But dark clouds were on the horizon for Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Much of the big man’s time at the Sharks was spent recovering from a leg injury that would prove incessant. In 2014 he tore his ACL. A year to the day of the horrifying injury the same leg suffered another ACL tear.

His quality as a player, however, was not forgotten.

He managed to retain his spot for the 2015 Rugby World Cup (RWC), securing third place with the Springboks. All thanks to his father, who offered up his tendon in a transplant to keep the du Toit engine running for a few more years.

After his surgery he went from strength to strength, and Pieter-Steph du Toit powered on to lift the trophy in the 2019 Rugby World Cup. A feat he may have thought was beyond him while in recovery. After winning the 2019 RWC, he was awarded the 2019 Men's World Rugby Player of the Year for his outstanding performances.

Pieter-Steph du Toit showed that whatever the setback, having the perseverance to improvise, adapt, and overcome will get you to the gold.