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'The body helps you to say stop' - Ex-Bok Flip van der Merwe calls it quits

Former Springbok lock Flip van der Merwe (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Former Springbok second row Flip van der Merwe is to retire from playing at the end of this season.

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Having initially thrived in the Top 14 when he joined Clermont for the 2015/16 season after nine season of Super Rugby with the Bulls and the Cheetahs, the South African has struggled this season and has started in just four his 12 French league appearances.

That infrequent selection has convinced 33-year-old van der Merwe that it is best that he hangs up his boots in June just before his next birthday.

“The body helps you to say stop,” explained the 1.98-metre forward who tips the scales at 118 kgs.

“You have to be honest, I can not go on. When I see guys being sheepish… I can’t catch them anymore. It’s a hard decision to make in the sense that it’s something, there is emotion.”

Van der Merwe was capped 35 times for South Africa but he missed out on World Cup selection in 2015, playing his last Test against Argentina in the run-up to those finals. He added a French Top 14 title in 2017 to Super Rugby honours previously won at the Bulls.

It was this time last year that he made headlines on the back of a four-week ban for pushing a referee, a suspension that cost him an appearance for the Barbarians against England at Twickenham.

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In a league match versus Toulouse, a referee had stood in his way while he approached a ruck. Van der Merwe gave the referee a push so that he could get to the breakdown and the play ended with Clermont being awarded a penalty.

The official didn’t take any offence to what the South African had done, bar exchanging a few words after the penalty decision was taken. However, the incident was to have a disciplinary hearing sequel and van der Merwe copped a four-week ban he wasn’t amused by.

He was then suspended for five weeks in March following a red card in a win over Pau.

WATCH: The latest episode of Rugby Explorer where Jim Hamilton visits Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and meets local rugby communities

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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