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World Cup winner Francois Louw to quit at the age of 34
By Online Editors
World Cup winner Francois Louw will retire from playing at the end of the 2019/20 campaign in England. The Bath flanker has made 134 starts in 140 appearances with the club, but will now quit following nine seasons in the Premiership.
The 34-year-old Springbok told bathrugby.com: “Bath is a city that we call home now, my family and I have settled here and representing the club so many times has been one of the many highlights of my career.
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“While this has been an incredibly tough decision to make, the time does feel right to face a new challenge. Right now, however, my focus is with Bath and I will give everything to the club as our sights are set on making the playoffs and winning further silverware.”
Following retirement, Louw will be looking to transfer his renowned turnover exploits on the rugby field to that of a different kind in the finance industry, as he is now a qualified financial advisor with the London Institute of Banking and Finance.
With 76 international caps for South Africa under his belt, his last coming at the recent World Cup in Japan, the back row has enjoyed an illustrious career spanning over a decade.
Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper added: “The contribution Francois has made to our club cannot be overstated. I have had the privilege of being by his side as a player and working with him now as director of rugby and his experience, commitment and world-class skill have been a mainstay of Bath for nine seasons.
“He gives absolutely everything every single time he pulls on the Bath colours – whether on the training ground or on matchday – and we cannot ever ask for more than that. These characteristics will serve him well as he moves on from rugby and while we wish him the very best for his future, we will all miss him incredibly.
“Personally, I’m thrilled he has chosen to stay in Bath and will look forward to seeing him at the Rec as well as around the city.”
By the time of his Springbok debut Louw had already racked up 50 appearances for Western Province as well as forming part of the Stormers’ highly-successful back row trio alongside Schalk Burger and Duane Vermeulen.
Having started in their Super 14 final defeat to the Bulls in Soweto in 2010, Louw was rewarded with a call-up to the South Africa squad for their June Tests. He debuted against Wales in Cardiff before scoring his first Test try in a rout against France at Newlands, his home ground in Cape Town.
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John, McKenzie was 10 years ago and he only lasted 15 months until the disgustingly unfair affair that brought him down. I thought that if he didn't get another gig over Eddie V2 then he was done. I read that he had been approached but declined to put his name in the ring.
There are no potential Wallaby coaches outside of McKellar unless you have some inside info?
Go to commentsThe way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.
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