PRETORIA - Former South Africa captain Adriaan Strauss, the most capped player in the country's Super Rugby history, has announced his retirement from all forms of the game.
The 32-year-old hooker will end his 14-year professional career at the completion of the 2018 Super Rugby season, he confirmed in a statement from his Pretoria-based Bulls team on Tuesday.
"It hasn't been an easy decision, but one that I’ve been thinking about for a while now," he said. "I have been blessed to play the game I love, with and against some amazing people, all while building some great friendships. It is however time for me to enter into the next phase of my life and focus on a few new ventures."
"The Bulls have always backed me and given me the opportunity to prove myself, and for this I am eternally grateful. It is however time for me to enter into the next phase of my life and focus on a few new ventures… and off course enjoy being a supporter while I’m at it.”
Strauss has played a South African record 156 times in Super Rugby to date, 97 of those for the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs. He also won 66 test caps for the Boks, initially as an understudy to 2007 World Cup-winning captain John Smit, only making a single start in his first four years with the national team before going on to captain the side for a single season in 2016. He retired from international rugby in that season, but such has been his form in 2018 that there were suggestions he could be set for a Bok recall.