Boks’ Brits defers retirement to chase World Cup place

Schalk Brits has confirmed that he has deferred his retirement for a year in a bid to make South Africa’s World Cup squad.

Brits called time on an illustrious career with Saracens in May, turning his attentions towards earning a degree, but he was then handed a surprise Springboks recall for the Test series against England.

And after discussions with South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus, the 37-year-old is on the lookout for a new club in order to contend for a World Cup place next year.

“Rassie has convinced me to keep on playing and now it is a case of getting the logistics around that in place,” Brits told RugbyPass.

“I want to play rugby and it was a case of either choosing to continue or do the MBA [Master of Business Administration] at Cambridge.

“We tried to work through all the things that I would need to do playing wise with Cambridge, but there were too many clashes and too many missed classes. As a result, we have deferred it for a year and I will apply again and hopefully get in after the World Cup.

“We were at a point where my wife said, ‘Just make a decision.’ And that is what we have now done.

“The main problem is that I have entered the rugby market for a new club late. I am currently trying to sort out something with the Stormers or the Bulls. The options in the UK were limited because the squads are already full under the salary cap.”

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