De Klerk puts team first as he rebuilds after injury setbacks

De Klerk delivered a solid performance in the 56-20 victory over Stade Français at Loftus Versfeld, but his post-match comments focused less on the result and more on the personal journey that brought him back to the field.

The 26-year-old has battled repeated injury setbacks during his time at the Bulls, most recently a left foot problem that kept him out for an extended period. He admitted the latest setback tested him.

"I was very frustrated getting injured again, but I believe everything happens for a reason, and I've learned a lot from it, grown a lot as a person," he said.

"My wife has been a great support for me in that time.

"The motivation was very big. Watching the guys play, playing the URC final, you obviously want to be there as well," he said.

During the six weeks he could not put weight on his foot, De Klerk tried to make the most of the downtime.

"I picked up reading a lot, spent a lot of time with my wife and family, and started some things on the side business-wise, which was productive. I didn't want to waste the setback. I believe you can always find something positive to get out of it," he said.

His first outing back came in a warm-up against the Stormers in Paarl, which whet his appetite to make a full competitive return.

"That first game, the Stormers warm-up, was almost a case of just hoping my foot would be alright. I've been enjoying it a lot, it's a privilege to represent this team," he said.

The victory and his personal milestone were tempered by the wider rugby community's grief after the sudden death of Lions lock Hyron Andrews, who passed away at the team hotel in France on Friday after a fall.

"When I heard the news last night, I told my wife I couldn't imagine playing a game today. It puts everything in perspective," De Klerk said quietly.

"We speak a lot about dreams and goals for the future, but this really puts things into context.

"The Bulls are supporting him and his family, and praying for them. I can't imagine how tough it must be for them. No trophy will ever replace that, it's a massive tragedy. He played [against the Bulls] just last week, it's very surreal.

"We should be grateful for every day, and take every opportunity to be with the people we love."

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