World Cup winner Fourie du Preez announced his retirement from rugby on Thursday – his 34th birthday.
The scrum-half was an integral part of South Africa’s 2007 World Cup winning side and captained the Springboks in four matches during last year’s tournament in England.
The 34-year-old Du Preez represented South Africa in 76 Tests between 2004 and 2015, captaining the Springboks in four Tests at the Rugby World Cup in England last year. He also played for the Bulls in Super Rugby as well as Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath.

Du Preez will go down as one of the best scrum halves of his generation thanks to his abilities as the Springboks scrum half. His performances were so good that he merited a recall from Heyneke Meyer in 2014.
Du Preez sent his team into the World Cup semi-final thanks to his try in the closing stages.
The Bulls and Suntory Sungoliath scrum half has been a world class scrum half throughout his career and will live long in the memory for his performances. South Africa have lost their primary scrum half and now the next scrum half will have enormously big boots to fill.
Patrick Perry, Pundit Arena
____
Heineken Rugby Club celebrates and rewards real supporters who make the game what it is.
Read More About: bulls, Bulls Super Rugby, Fourie du Preez, scrum-half, south africa rugby, South African rugby, springboks, Suntory Sungoliath