Super Rugby: Adriaan Strauss swapping boots for work shoes

The Bulls’ final three Super Rugby matches will be Adriaan Strauss’ last for the rest of the 2017 season.

The former Springboks captain has declined to play in this year’s Currie Cup but, interestingly, he’s not going to cash in with a stint in Japan like numerous other local players.

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Instead, Strauss will swap rugby boots for work shoes for the next five months.

Ever since becoming a star for the Cheetahs before his move back to Pretoria, the 31-year-old has established burgeoning business interests for himself.

And Strauss believes some good, old-fashioned office work is the tonic he needs to rejuvenate himself for 2018.

“I’m definitely not going to play any rugby after the current Super Rugby campaign. I can assure everyone of that,” he said on Wednesday.

“I know it sounds weird coming from a professional rugby player but I’m actually going to go into an office and work from eight to four. I’m looking forward to it.”

That plan need not spook Bulls fans who were hoping Strauss could be one of a few wise veterans to help usher in the new John Mitchell-era.

“I’m not playing Currie Cup but I’ve still got some time left at the union,” said Strauss, whose contract with the Bulls actually only expires in 2019.

“I’m going to work in the gym and keep my conditioning up to standard and obviously do some office work.”

Strauss deserves the rest as he’s actually come off a rough three years.

His return to Loftus coincided with a crumbling marriage before he skippered the Springboks in their depressing 2016 campaign and then coming under fire for his poor form this year.

“I want to recover a bit from this year. I’ve been involved in rugby quite a lot the last few years,” said Strauss.

“I didn’t get a lot of rest and certainly didn’t miss a lot of games. I think it will be good for the body and mind just to take a breather.”

Having handed the Springboks’ captaincy reigns to Warren Whiteley, Strauss is excited by the new vibe in the national team.

“It’s exciting, there’s a lot of energy in that camp,” he said.

“It’s great to see them get results. We as a country needed that.”

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