Born 16 May 1981. World Cup winner at 38. Still smiling throughout. Schalk Burger Brits turned 45 on Saturday — and his story remains one of the most remarkable in South African rugby history.
THE PLAYER
Brits made his Springboks debut in 2008 against Italy at Newlands — as a 27-year-old reserve. Late to the international stage, but impossible to ignore once he arrived.
His real home was at Saracens, where he made 216 appearances and became a cornerstone of the most dominant club side in European rugby. Four Premiership titles. Two Heineken Champions Cup triumphs. A player his teammates loved and opposition coaches feared.
THE COMEBACK
After the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Brits stepped away from international rugby. He retired from Saracens in 2018 with 15 Test caps. Most assumed that was the end.
Rassie Erasmus had other ideas. At 37, Brits got the call. He answered. At 38, he boarded a plane to Japan for the 2019 Rugby World Cup — and started against Namibia at number eight, a position he didn’t even play. He captained the side that day. He scored a try.
The Springboks won the Webb Ellis Cup. Brits became the oldest player in history to win a Rugby World Cup — at 38 years and 170 days.
THE LEGACY
Fifteen Test caps. Two World Cup campaigns. One winner’s medal. The numbers don’t tell the story. The smile does. Brits brought joy to every dressing room he walked into — at Western Province, the Stormers, Saracens, and the Springboks.
He represented something bigger than statistics — that talent, attitude and belief have no expiry date. South Africa became the first team to lose a pool match and still lift the trophy in 2019. Brits was part of that. Every bit of it.
JUST PLAIN SPORT SAYS HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SCHALK
45 years old. Still an inspiration. Here’s to the famous smile — and to proving that it’s never too late to chase greatness. 🇿🇦🦏
