Deon Fourie still harbours dreams of playing for the Springboks at the ripe age of 38 years old. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
After his omission from the Springbok setup in 2024, you would’ve been excused from thinking that world champion Deon Fourie had seen the last of a Bok jersey in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand.
He is 38 years old, after all, and the curtain call on his illustrious career is fast approaching. But, in Springbok rugby, if you are still good enough, you are never too old to represent the country.
That is what Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus said after surprising again by pulling the veteran Fourie into his plans for 2025 – a year the world champions look set to experiment more with their player stocks, especially those with not too many Test capts.
The Springboks will play 15 Tests – two must still be confirmed – and a friendly match against the Barbarians are on the cards for the middle of the year.
Fourie himself was quite surprised by the call-up after not being involved at all post the 2023 tournament, though a long-term injury did curtail most of his rugby last year. He is back to his fiery self on the field and has been putting in the performances for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
He is hopeful that some more consistent displays for his franchise will sway the Bok coaches to make use of him soon. He is hungry for more Tests, and it will add to the accolades he’s already notched up during his long professional career.
With Test matches against Italy and Georgia in July and the one against the Baabaas, Fourie and his experience has been roped in by Erasmus to possibly make a return this year. With plenty of inexperienced loose forwards and hookers waiting to stake their claim at the highest level, the fetcher is seen as a perfect player with experience to guide them.
The expectation won’t be to see him play in five to 10 Tests this year but having him in the squad will allow the Boks’ more senior players like captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, and Bongi Mbonambi to rest for longer at the start of the year.
Fourie this past week said he was quite surprised by the call-up to the first alignment camp in Cape Town.
“I didn’t think I would get that honour again,” Fourie said about being involved with the Springboks again.
“We landed in Johannesburg for a live (URC) game, and that is when I got the news. So, it came as a surprise. Just being there and seeing everyone and hearing what the plans are for the season, lit the fire for Test rugby again.
“Hopefully I can stay in the setup this year.”
Erasmus called Fourie the perfect insurance to have in your back pocket if some of the youngsters, especially at hooker, do not shoot the lights out.
While guys like Andre-Hugo Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Ethan Bester, and Marnus van der Merwe are seen as prospects to take over in the number two jersey in a couple of years, Erasmus wants that security as well with Fourie being that. His versatility, playing loose forward and hooker, makes him a good option to keep around.
“Johnny Sexton played until he was 38 and Deon is one of the more experienced guys who’s probably in the best shape,” Erasmus said ahead of the alignment camp.
“I don’t believe Deon thinks he’ll play eight Tests this year, but he knows that we can call on him if things don’t work out for us and no one shoots the lights out or plays fantastic at hooker.”
Fourie will look to finish the URC in good form as the Stormers push for a playoff spot. If they can reach the knockouts of the tournament, it will certainly boost Fourie’s chances of staying involved in the plans of Erasmus.
