Frans Malherbe: Top Springboks Star Fighting to Avoid Early Retirement Fears

• Springboks star Frans Malherbe is working hard to fight off early retirement fears as he's still planning a comeback
• The 34-year-old rugby superstar has been struggling with a back injury since March 2025, which ruled him out last season
• The Stormers player is pushing to make it back in time, with the 2027 Rugby World Cup being months away

Several senior Springboks appear to be approaching the twilight of their international careers, with experienced campaigners such as Faf de Klerk, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi and Vincent Koch already drifting to the fringes of the national setup.

Despite this transition, supporters will be eagerly watching developments around the potential comeback of veteran tighthead Frans Malherbe, a cornerstone of South Africa’s forward dominance during an era that delivered back-to-back Rugby World Cup triumphs.

Malherbe has been out of action since March last year, having worsened a long-standing back complaint during a United Rugby Championship fixture, an injury that ultimately ruled him out of the entire 2025 campaign.

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He missed out on the Springboks' dominance in 2025, where they retained the Rugby Championship title while also going unbeaten in the end-of-the-year tour.

Malherbe fights off early retirement fears

Concerns over an early exit from the game have naturally followed. The forced retirement of Steven Kitshoff in early 2025 due to a neck issue heightened fears that Malherbe could face a similar outcome, particularly given the physical demands placed on front-row forwards.

While the experienced prop remains in the midst of an extended rehabilitation process, there is now renewed optimism surrounding his recovery as he's looking forward to an early return.

By opting against high-risk surgical intervention, Malherbe and the Springbok medical staff committed to a cautious treatment plan, and encouraging signs emerged toward the end of last year that his progress was trending more positively than before.

Update on Malherbe's injury, World Cup chances

Approaching his 35th birthday in March, Malherbe is yet to resume full-contact training, but there is hope he could re-enter selection discussions as the URC reaches its decisive stages.

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Given his value to both the Springboks and the Stormers, medical teams have erred on the side of caution throughout his recovery. Should he regain full fitness, however, Malherbe may yet push his case for inclusion in South Africa’s plans leading into the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Rassie Erasmus is looking forward to winning the Rugby World Cup for the third time in a row, with Malherbe being part of the Springboks squad that won the last two editions of the competition.

Springboks star ruled out of the season

Briefly News also reported that a Springboks star has suffered a season-ending injury, which means he is set to be out for a long period in 2026.

The South African rugby star's injury comes as bad news for both his club and the Springboks as he's now expected to undergo surgery in a few days.

Source: Briefly News