Springbok Legend Calls Time On Illustrious Career

Former Springbok centre Jaque Fourie won’t be making a rugby comeback with the Western Force, officially calling time on a glittering career.

Fourie has been running the side’s defence this season and had initially planned to combine that with a playing return when he linked up with the club.

A series of niggles have prevented from reaching full fitness and the 35-year-old opted to put an end to his playing days.

Fourie enjoyed a stellar test career scoring 32 tries in a Springbok career which saw him win a World Cup (2007), the Tri-Nations (2009), as well as beat the British and Irish Lions in a three-Test series (2009).

At the end of 2011, he had scored a total of 32 tries in 72 Tests, placing him third behind Joost van der Westhuizen and Bryan Habana on the all-time list. Along with Jean de Villiers, he holds the Springbok record for the most Tests as a centre combination (29). 

Fourie spent most of his career at the Lions between 2002 and 2008 before joining Western Province and the Stormers in 2010. Following the 2011 Rugby World Cup, he joined Japanese side Kobe Steelers and eventually joined the Western Force as a play-coach in 2017.