Francois Louw, the 2020 Rugby World Cup winning Springbok flank, is set to retire at the end of the season.
This was confirmed Thursday by the 34-year-old Cape Town-born and Bishops and Stellenbosch-educated grandson of famed Springbok lock Jan Pickard.
The legendary Pickard was arguably the Western Province’s most successful captain and president ever.
Like him, Louw can also claim to have had an illustrious career. It saw him represent Western Province, the Stormers and Bath Rugby Club during a distinguished spell when he was also earning 76 international caps for South Africa.
Louw, one of his country’s strong men at the rucks and mauls, brought down the curtain on his Springbok career in November with his country’s World Cup triumph in Japan.
Bath’s the city Louw calls home
Louw has made 134 starts in his 140 appearances for Bath and now, on his official website, says: “Bath is the city that we call home.
“My family and I have settled here, and representing the club so many times has been one of the many highlights of my career.
“While this has been an incredibly tough decision to make, the time does feel right to face a new challenge.
“Right now, however, my focus is with Bath, and I will give everything to the club as our sights are set on making the play-offs and winning further silverware.”
Bath’s director of rugby Stuart Hooper led the tributes to Louw, who is qualified financial advisor outside of his rugby career
“The contribution he has made to our club cannot be overstated,” Hooper said.
“I have had the privilege of being by his side as a player and working with him now as director of rugby, and his experience, commitment and world class skill has been a mainstay of Bath for nine seasons.
“He gives absolutely everything, every single time he pulls on the Bath colors – whether on the training ground or in match day – and we cannot ever ask for more than that.”
Francois Louw ????????
Bath Rugby – 2⃣0⃣1⃣1⃣-2⃣0⃣2⃣0⃣
Thank you, Sir. pic.twitter.com/SRaEK7BkDA
— Bath Rugby (@bathrugby) March 12, 2020