Springbok Evan Roos ‘rejuvenated’ after six-month injury lay-off

Springbok and Stormers No 8 Evan Roos said his six-month injury lay-off gave his body a break and offered him a new perspective on the game, helping him play at his best and enjoy rugby even more.

Roos played his seventh match for the Springboks in the Test against Portugal in July last year. But it would be his last match for half a year, with surgery and rehab needed for a long-standing shoulder issue.

Returning to the game in January, Roos has been invaluable to the Stormers in their United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign. He’s started all seven of his URC outings, scoring six tries in them.

His latest try came from a scrum in the Stormers’ 34–29 bonus-point win against Connacht in Cape Town last weekend.

Evan Roos motivated and energised

“It’s a new angle and kind of looking at things differently in terms of how I play,” the 25-year-old said of his return from injury. “I think it was very good. I came back motivated, rejuvenated and energised to play again.

“The bottom line is I am really enjoying playing rugby again. I was gone for half a year and it does put things into perspective so I am very blessed to be back.”

The 2022 URC’s Players’ Player of the Season, Next-Gen Player of the Season, and Fans’ Player of the Season said he wasn’t concerning himself too much about trying to get back into the Springbok squad at the moment, though he did attend this year’s first Springbok alignment camp, in March.

“In terms of the Springboks, one of the reasons why I am enjoying my rugby, or doing a bit better than usual, is because I am really enjoying being here – kind of being present in the moment and trying to do my best for the Stormers, not worrying too much about the future.

“I’m just trying to control what I can. The rest is not in my hands.”