Hailed as one of the “greatest Stormers of all time”, Steven Kitshoff was the glue that kept the Cape side together during their ‘dark days’ when the franchise almost fell apart.
Kitshoff called time on his decorated Stormers and Springboks career this week on medical advice, following a serious neck injury sustained while playing for Western Province in a Currie Cup match.
While the double World Cup and United Rugby Championship winner is not entirely lost to South African rugby and the Stormers, he will focus on recovering after surgery, and continuing his Bomb Squad Beer business venture with Bok hooker Malcolm Marx.
But the ‘Spicy Plum’, as he is affectionately known, wants to stay involved in rugby, with his eye on coaching in the foreseeable future.
Stormers director of rugby John Dobson said that Kitshoff could’ve left them when the franchise had their financial struggles, but his decision to stay probably saved them from ending up like the Southern Kings.
“When we were losing big players – names like Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, and Bongi Mbonambi – it was his faith in staying that saved us,” Dobson said.
“Because he stayed, we could go to a Frans Malherbe and say Kitsie is staying. Then the other players stayed.
“His decision to stay couldn’t have been based on security, but based on his love for this union. He could have gone anywhere back then as the world’s best loosehead prop, him and Frans. They decided to stay on.”
One of the greatest to ever do it, thanks for everything Kitsie. #iamastormer #spicyplum #kitsie pic.twitter.com/FExBNIoprI
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) February 25, 2025
Dobson described Kitshoff as a gentleman on and off the field, and someone who transcended all cultures within the squad.
He added that when joining the Stormers as a 19-year-old in 2010, Kitshoff had shown what a quality player he was. But they didn’t yet know the quality of person he was and would become.
“We knew he was a ‘Strand Hond’,” Dobson laughingly said, referring to the nickname given to rugby players from the Helderberg region.
“Over the last 15 years, we got to know the quality of man and person he is, and I think you all know what I’m talking about.
“On and off the field, he is a gentleman, a glue character. We’ll always remember the ‘Spicy Plum’, and he was a guy who transcended everything and is what the ideal Stormer looked like.
“He brought so much more to the group beyond being the world’s best loosehead prop. It’s very sad for us because he’s one of the guys we built the team around for the last few years.
“He took us to two URC finals, and we were so excited for Kitsie (his return from Ulster) and grateful to our owners for making it possible. We were looking forward to the next three or four years with him.
“But that’s the way it has worked out. It’s just bad luck, and nothing more than that.”
Kitshoff joked by saying that if you took a look at his matric results, rugby was 100% the only option for him.
He had to get a special dispensation from the South African Rugby Union to make his debut for the Stormers back then due to his age. The dream, though, was always to play rugby for the Cape side and eventually the Springboks.
“I was still writing matric exams when I got a call from Allister Coetzee (former Stormers coach) to join the group,” Kitshoff remembered.
There are too many to mention, but Steven Kitshoff highlights some of his fondest #Springboks and #Stormers memories after calling it a day pic.twitter.com/IgGE43vhRa
— Leighton Koopman (@Leighton_K) February 25, 2025
“That was my entry into the Stormers side. We still had legends like Schalk Burger, Jean de Villiers, Andries Bekker, Tiaan Liebenberg and Duane Vermeulen playing.
“It was a dream not just to play for the Springboks, but to run out at Newlands back in the day. That was my goal.
“Those legends made it special from the moment I joined, whether it was with a round of golf or a beer at the bar.”
According to Kitshoff, there is nothing concrete within coaching yet, but he would like to stay involved in rugby as much as possible.
He added the sport has given him so much and it is time he gives back – whether it’s with youth development, mentoring or consulting.
“I just want to stay involved. I am super passionate about this amazing sport.
“I gained plenty of knowledge over the years, and would love to help the guys coming through so they can reach their full potential.”