From truck loader to Springbok: Lizo Gqoboka retires
SPOTLIGHT: Lizo Gqoboka’s remarkable rugby journey has come to an end, with the veteran Bulls prop announcing his retirement at the age of 36.
The two-time Springbok said the decision had been years in the making after a series of injuries, but he leaves the game with “a heart full of gratitude and contentment” after more than a decade at Loftus Versfeld.
Fittingly, Gqoboka bowed out on a high. In his final appearance, a warm-up match against the Falcons, he was named man of the match after scoring two tries and earning eight scrum penalties. A week later, without injury forcing his hand, he informed the Bulls that his playing days were over.
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His rise to professional rugby is one of South Africa’s most inspiring stories. Raised in rural Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape, Gqoboka only took up rugby seriously at 19 after previously working as a truck loader and at a funeral parlour. He completed a business management qualification while juggling work, club rugby and eventually earning his first professional contract through the guidance of former Springbok Robbie Kempson.
Gqoboka went on to enjoy spells with the Stormers and Montpellier before becoming a cornerstone of the Bulls pack for more than 10 years. Along the way he earned two Springbok caps, an achievement he describes as the highlight of his career, while also taking immense pride in the resilience and character it took to remain at one of South Africa’s biggest unions for so long.
Reflecting on his toughest opponent, Gqoboka singled out fellow Springbok prop Frans Malherbe. “He’s not just big and strong, he’s also technically sound,” he said, praising Malherbe’s rare combination of power and scrummaging technique.
Away from rugby, faith has always been central to Gqoboka’s life. Having recently completed a theology degree, he plans to devote more time to ministry while continuing to grow his earthmoving equipment business and motivational speaking career. He credits his wife, children, parents and faith as the foundations that sustained him throughout his career.
Blue Bulls chief executive Edgar Rathbone hailed Gqoboka’s story as one of the most remarkable in South African rugby, praising not only his achievements on the field but also his humility, resilience and character.
As Gqoboka steps into the next chapter of his life, he does so with the same outlook that defined his career: “I’m truly grateful. All my kids were born here. It’s home.”
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