Jan Serfontein retires: Injuries force former Springbok centre to call time

Springbok Jan Serfontein has called time on his rugby career, the Bulls revealed on Tuesday, despite being only in the first year of a three-year contract with the Pretoria-based side.

The 33-year-old joined the Bulls earlier this season with the hope that he would bring his physicality and abilities to the team’s United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup campaigns. Unfortunately, due to persistent injury — the latest setback a knee injury in April — the centre managed to play only three matches this season.

Although not mentioned in the statement released by the union, it can be inferred that the continued injury woes eventually played a part in Serfontein’s early retirement. As per the union's statement, Serfontein had "been mulling his decision for some time and finally made up his mind after consulting with his family and coach."

“Every player knows that there’s a time to call it a day,” Serfontein said, via the statement.

“We used to drive up from Port Elizabeth to watch Currie Cup finals and also the year (2009) they won the Super Rugby final against the Chiefs. I was always a fan from when I was a youngster. There were many highs and lows and I’m massively proud and fortunate to have represented the Bulls.”

Serfontein’s legacy will be remembered as one of unfulfilled promise, as he was highly regarded as a possible Springbok stalwart but often overlooked by the national setup, especially during the latter years of his professional career. Despite making his debut for the Boks against Italy in 2013, he would go on to represent the nation only 35 times until 2017, winning a bronze medal during the 2015 Rugby World Cup while doing so.

Previously, he had won the Junior World Championship with the Junior Springboks in 2012, which saw him named Player of the Tournament.

Arguably his biggest impact as a rugby player was at Montpellier during an eight-year spell between 2017 and 2025. He made 147 appearances for the Top 14 side, winning the EPCR Challenge Cup in 2021 and the French Top 14 Championship in 2022, leaving the club as a legend.

“Jan has been the epitome of a true professional and a ‘Loftus man’ through and through,” said Bulls chief executive Edgar Rathbone.

“From the moment he first arrived as a world-class junior talent to his return as a veteran leader, his contribution to this jersey has been immense. While his final season was unfortunately cut short by injury, his impact on the culture of this team and his mentorship of the younger players remained invaluable."

“We wish Jan and his family nothing but the best for this next chapter; he will always have a home here at Loftus Versfeld,” Rathbone concluded.