Pieter-Steph du Toit, one of the greatest players in Springboks history, is approaching a century of caps for the national team, and this recognition is thoroughly deserved. He is a two-time World Rugby Player of the Year award winner.
The Start of His Journey and Family Influence
When young du Toit arrived in Durban in 2012 from a rural school in the Western Cape, Sharks coach John Plamtree noted his unusual physical build, stating that they had to change sports equipment because of his hands, which were 'like tin lids.' The New Zealander also predicted that the quiet young man would turn out to be special due to his strength.
Du Toit's strength is largely linked to his grandfather, Pierre 'Spier' du Toit, who played for the Springboks as a loosehead prop from 1958 to 1961. In 2013, when du Toit spoke about his grandfather, he recalled how he used to play with him as a child, despite the fact that he passed away in 1996 at the age of 60 after a marathon.
Family Legacy and Traditions
Du Toit emphasized that he grew up with a sense of destiny and the value of his heritage, feeling responsible for the family name. This family phenomenon is not new: shortly after the first du Toits arrived in South Africa in the 1690s as Huguenot refugees from France, a tradition arose of naming the eldest son Pieter-Steph du Toit. Since the 1820s, eight generations of Pieter-Stephs have been involved in winemaking in Boland.
The family farm, known as Kloovenburg Wine and Olive Estate, is located in Ribik Castle, in the heart of the Western Cape, near Cape Town. Pieter-Steph's father is a winemaker, and his mother is involved in olive cultivation and oil production. In 2013, the young du Toit mentioned that he would like to complete his grandfather's collection of old boots, feeling that he was following in his footsteps.
Career and Injuries
Six months after that interview, on November 9, 2013, Pieter-Steph made his debut for South Africa against Wales in Cardiff, in a match that the Boks won 24-15. He stated that the farm is very important to him, and that he plans to return to the farm after his career ends.
His desire to engage in farming was interrupted by a series of serious injuries. In 2019, six months before the World Cup in Japan, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, leading doctors to deem his World Cup dream hopeless. However, his father, Pieter du Toit, proposed an unconventional solution: using a piece of his own tendon to strengthen his son's knee. After this surgery, seven months later, the Springboks won the World Cup, and Pieter-Steph was named Tournament Player and World Rugby Player of the Year 2019.
His subsequent career was marred by another severe injury. In 2020, while playing for the Stormers, he sustained a thigh blow that led to acute compartment syndrome. His leg doubled in size, and the surgeon warned the 27-year-old athlete of a 50-50 chance of amputation. Following a 41-centimeter incision and two weeks of open wound care, he lost 10 kg, and his leg halved in size. Du Toit spent 14 months rehabilitating at the family farm before matches against the British and Irish Lions in July 2021.
The Indomitable Fighter's Spirit
Upon his return, he added his Bok jerseys to the collection in the wine cellar with tears in his eyes. Pieter du Toit noted that although it was difficult for his son, it gave him a very strong spirit. He concluded: 'The du Toits are all fighters. We do not give up. We never gave up, and we never will.'
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