Bok prop forced into retirement

Springbok and Stormers prop Deon Carstens has been forced to retire due to an ongoing back injury.

The 33-year-old, who joined the Stormers from English club Saracens for the 2012 Super Rugby season, played five matches for the Cape franchise and was a member of last year’s Currie Cup-winning Western Province team.

Carstens made his Springbok debut against Scotland in 2002 when he was part of the end-of-year tour squad under coach Rudolf Straeuli and played the last of his 10 Springbok caps against the British and Irish Lions in Johannesburg in 2009.

Carstens also represented South Africa at Schools, Under-21, Under-23 and ‘A’ team level, won 84 caps for the Sharks and won the Currie Cup with the Durban side on two occasions.