Becoming the most-capped player in Springbok history requires enduring a lot of challenges—and Eben Etzebeth knows this firsthand.
After achieving this milestone last year, Etzebeth hasn’t played since December 7 due to a concussion he sustained in a match against Exeter City in the European Champions Cup.
According to SA Rugby protocol, players who suffer concussions are allowed to return after 21 days, provided they pass a Head Injury Assessment (HIA). However, for Etzebeth, this has not yet been the case. More than 60 days have passed since the injury, and the Springbok star has yet to pass the necessary HIA, raising concerns over his future. The Sharks have released a statement revealing that the 33-year-old is experiencing a relapse of his concussion symptoms, noting:
“Etzebeth has suffered a return of symptoms from his recent concussion. The Sharks take this injury seriously, and player welfare remains our priority. He is being managed by concussion specialists, and he will only return once they are satisfied that the injury has fully resolved.”
Although there’s been no official talk of an early retirement, given the timeline, it’s reasonable to assume that Etzebeth is now facing a significant decision regarding his career—whether to continue or retire.
In other news, Etzebeth’s teammate, Siya Kolisi, shared his thoughts on the competition for a starting role with the Springboks, saying:
“To be honest, I’m not thinking about the captaincy. My focus is just on making the team. The most important thing is having the opportunity to play for the Springboks. Whether I’m captain or not is out of my control. I just want to play well enough to be part of the squad and hopefully make it to the 2027 World Cup.”
