Os du Randt is one of the most feared and revered props to have ever played for the Springboks, amassing a staggering 80 caps for the national team.
Du Randt’s career was often plagued by injuries, yet his dedication saw him make remarkable comebacks. He was part of the iconic 1995 World Cup-winning squad and remained the last active member playing into the professional era. Remarkably, his final match was the 2007 World Cup final, where he bowed out as a champion, securing a second World Cup victory for South Africa.
“I never thought I would bow out in a World Cup final when I called it a day in 2000,” he reflected after completing his incredible comeback. “To begin with a world title and to finish with another is a real accomplishment, a memory that I will cherish forever.”
Beyond the international stage, Du Randt spent most of his domestic career with the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup, with a brief stint at the Blue Bulls. Fellow Springbok prop CJ van der Linde aptly summed up his career, stating, “Os is a legend in South African rugby. Even little children know who he is. His name will be mentioned for many years still. We do not realize what impact he makes. One day, when he is old, we will know what great work he did for South Africa and what a leader he was.”
SPRINGBOK ICON OS DU RANDT HAS MADE A SUCCESS OF HIS POST-RUGBY RETIREMENT
Following his second and final retirement in 2007, Du Randt shared his expertise as a scrum coach. He briefly served at the Cheetahs and as a consultant with the Springboks under Peter de Villiers, helping shape the next generation of props. He also shifted his focus away from rugby to work with former teammate Naka Drotske at TopTrim, a company that manufactures fitness and nutrition products. Currently, he manages a chicken farm, having always been passionate about farming.
HALL OF FAMER
It shouldn’t be forgotten that Du Randt, now 51 years old, was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2022.
“Du Randt, or ‘The Ox’ as he was nicknamed during his playing days, was sidelined through injury from 2000-03 but returned to the Springboks’ ranks against Ireland in Bloemfontein in June 2004, thus ending a five-year absence from the international arena,” the World Rugby organization stated when he was inducted.
“The fact that he missed 46 matches during his time away makes Du Randt’s final tally of test caps all the more remarkable. Until being overtaken by John Smit in late 2008, the revered prop held the record as South Africa’s most-capped forward. Aside from his Rugby World Cup successes, he also won the Tri-Nations trophy in 2004, and enjoyed a successful provincial and Super Rugby career in his native South Africa.”
Os du Randt’s legacy in rugby is indelible, and his post-rugby career demonstrates his versatility and commitment to success in all his endeavors.
