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Willem Alberts to retire as one of pro rugby's oldest players
By Ian Cameron
Former Sprignboks back row Willem Alberts has announced his decision to retire at the conclusion of the current United Rugby Championship (URC) season. This news marks the end of an illustrious career for 'The Bone Collector' who has been a stalwart of South African rugby for nearly two decades.
Alberts - known for his physicality - began his professional journey with the Lions in Super Rugby before moving to the Sharks, where he significantly bolstered their pack. The 6'4, 120kg bruiser's impact at the Sharks was profound, helping them to become one of the most competitive teams in the league.
Over a 19-year career he earned 43 caps for the Springboks, contributing significantly to their successes on the international stage between 2010 and 2016, including their journey in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Alberts’ career then took him to France where he represented Stade Français in the Top 14, further cementing his reputation as a formidable force in club rugby.
Returning to the Lions for the latter part of his career, Alberts continued to demonstrate the skill and determination that had become his hallmark.
Capable of playing in the second row, Alberts hangs up his boots at the ripe old age of 39, making him one of the oldest active professional rugby players on the planet.
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Latest Comments
Fantastic idea to fix your annual showpiece fixture (from the Wallabies perspective) to a national holiday. Look at the success this has had in the USA, where NBA and NFL fans pack multiple arenas across the country on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving, the two most widely-celebrated national holidays in North America, with millions more tuning in on TV. This allows fans to create an association between the holiday and the game, while the ANZAC Day example has the added benefit of the same two teams (who are already established historical and geographical rivals) playing each year, adding to the sense of tradition and deepening the rivalry with each iteration.
Would love to see this more widely-implemented across rugby. For instance, Ireland should seek to tie the opening fixture of the Women’s Six Nations to St. Patrick’s Day and host the game in the RDS with the Leinster Schools Senior Cup Final serving as an opener (bonus points if you make the opponent England every year). Would pack out the stadium and the School’s final fans always bring fantastic atmosphere!
Go to commentsI don't know if the players have talk to Galthie, but they should talk to their employers, the clubs, first. After losing Dupont for at least 9 months, I am sure Toulouse will applause this idea with their two hands….
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