Pretorius gives in

Pretorius gives in

25 Oct 2011

Jaco Pretorius has decided to retire from professional rugby after struggling with a back injury all season.

The 32-year-old centre was advised by his doctors to quit after failing to recover from injury this year. Pretorius played in 48 Super Rugby matches and 87 provincial matches for the Bulls and Lions and has represented the Springboks in two Tests. After joining the Bulls in 2008, Pretorius won a Currie Cup and back-to-back Super Rugby titles.

‘It is with great thanks and appreciation that I announce my retirement. I was so blessed in the 14 years of top flight rugby and words cannot describe the pride with which I pulled on my playing kit every time I could go out there, whether it was in red, blue or green,’ he said on the official Bulls website.

‘I injured my back again during rehabilitation and after seeking the opinions of specialists, was advised to quit, so my retirement comes earlier than planned. I could not have played my last game at a better place than at the Bulls. To win trophies and play with legends of the game was a special privilege.’


21 Comments

  • 1.Bagel: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2011, 19:06 pm

    Useless Dragons!

    Oh nooooooo! What will the Bulls do now? He was instrumental to them winning the Currie Cup semi-final at Newlands by ducking into a high tackle from the Fijian!

    But seriously, good luck Jaco, 32 not a bad age to retire for a centre anyways and you turned in some pretty awesome displays for the Lions on the odd occasion.

    The way is clear for Sadie too.

  • 2.Bagel: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2011, 19:06 pm

    @Bagel(Bagel)-1: Sorry to bash the guy but he’s about the only terrible signing the Bulls ever made…

  • 3.Captain Jack: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2011, 19:20 pm

    Sad to see him go was a good player for Bulls and SA Sevens. Sadie an even better signing now. Good Luck Jaco all the best.

  • 4.Morne for DOR: Reply to this comment
    25 Oct 2011, 19:34 pm

    When fit he was a very able CC and Super level player. Never got to really “kick on” from there due to injury, but that happens.

    Good luck with the next phase of your life.

  • 5.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 00:16 am

    Good luck Jaco. Injuries sure played havoc with your career . Your comments reveal a classy individual who will probably do well for himself in the future.

  • 6.Spookgogga: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 07:36 am

    @Bagel(Bagel)-2:

    Bagel, Springbok, Upcoming Springbok, Barbarian, Springbok Sevens player, Springbok Sevens captain, double Super Rugby winner, Currie Cup winner, Lions player of the year, SA Rugby Currie Cup player of the year nominee, 2nd highest try scorer in Currie Cup (twice), Vodacom Cup winner suggest otherwise…

    Classy guy indeed.

  • 7.Tarlo: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 08:45 am

    I always thought he was great at the lions but for some reason he never performed after moving to the bulls… Still, he was a god servant to SA Rugby and I wish him all the best. Good for the Bulls as well, Sadie purchase makes more sense now.

  • 8.Staal: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 09:51 am

    Not the best player on the pitch… imo…

    but as a person he helps at a orphanage in pretoria… therefore you’ve got my repsct!.

  • 9.Staal: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 09:51 am

    spelling :shock:

    respect!

  • 10.mshiniwami: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 10:53 am

    A distinguished career for a good professional. A late developer into the big time,was a superstar at the Lions when alongside Andre Pretorius for a couple of seasons.Bulls career filled with trophies but individually never scaled those same heights performance wise as at the Lions. One of the best conditioned rugby players ever.consummate pro.

    Should join his father multi-millionaire Chairman of McCarthy Brand Pretorius in some capacity,business wise. Dont feel too sorry for Jaco,he will be alright..Hehehe

    Many people dont know that he went to Gelofte Hoerskool in Natal and played Craven Week for Natal Schools…

  • 11.bokfan1: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 12:13 pm

    Unlucky Pretoors. You were brilliant on your day and wouldve been even more awesome if not for the injuries.

    None of us should forget the day you kicked that last-minute penalty to beat the ABs in Rustenburg, and probably saved Jake’s job.

    So, in a big way, the 2007 RWC victory is thanks to you in a way – you kept Jake as coach and kept the team together :-D

    All the best

  • 12.bokfan1: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 12:14 pm

    @bokfan1(bokfan1)-11: Oop – brainfart! Wrong Pretorius & I got carried away LOL

  • 13.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 13:48 pm

    @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-10:

    No idea he went to Gelofte…

  • 14.BrandP: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 13:49 pm

    @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-10:

    Thank you to you (and others) for the kind and balanced words about Jaco. I have always read and followed your opinions on rugby related matters with great interest on this and other forums.

    As you can probably gather, I am his brother.

    For what it is worth, my father retired at the end of Feb this year and Jaco will certainly not join him business wise. Jaco has always stood on his own two feet in terms of his career and life outside of rugby and will continue to do so after retiring from the game.

  • 15.Great White Shark: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 13:57 pm

    @BrandP(BrandP)-14:

    I stil remember being at Kings Park when he tore The Sharks to pieces in the final…I think he scored all the tries.

  • 16.mshiniwami: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 14:18 pm

    @BrandP(BrandP)-14:

    Interesting.This is a suprise.Thanks for that.

    Didnt know Pretorius senior retired, Im sure Jaco is well equipped to make whatever lies in his future work for him.He did so tirelessly as a pro rugby player when for a long time he didnt get his just desserts. Use to see him train ridiculously hard at RAU 1 Stadium/UJ stadium up those immense uphills along with Schalk vd Merwe(BioPlus).His conditioning was always on point. Was there as a junior RAU/Lions rugby ranks.

    Role model for those who dont make it as highly recruited juniors, to just keep at it and break through.

  • 17.mshiniwami: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 14:21 pm

    @bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-13:

    Think he did his matric and/or post matric year there.

  • 18.BrandP: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 20:43 pm

    @Great White Shark(Predawn)-15:

    It was the 2007 semi final – he scored two tries that day. A good memory indeed :-) .

  • 19.Great White Shark: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 20:44 pm

    @BrandP(BrandP)-18:

    I was of course gutted ;-)

  • 20.BrandP: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2011, 20:48 pm

    @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-17:

    He was in Gelofte from standard 8 and didn’t do a post matric. He came to RAU and made his debut for the RAU 1st team as a first year in 1998.

  • 21.mshiniwami: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2011, 09:44 am

    @BrandP(BrandP)-20:

    Oh so he was in Natal for a few years then. Thats no mean feat-RAU 1 as a first year as they were very strong back then.Was he at RES/Koshuis? If so which one?

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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