Olivier, who won the Varsity Cup in 2015 with the University of the Free State Shimlas, and lifted the Currie Cup with the Cheetahs last year, sustained a career-ending neck injury during the Guinness PRO14 match against the Dragons in Wales earlier in the year.

Initially, Olivier was set for a full recovery, however, the prognosis was much more serious and it was recommended that he call it a day for his young rugby career.

Whenever he has been on the park he made a major impact and over the past few years he was by far one of the best defenders in the team.

Sadly his career was plagued with a serious ankle injury that saw him missing out on quite a lot of rugby over a two-year period.

Speaking to OFM Sport, the young dad admitted that the news was devastating but the national Covid-19 lockdown gave him the opportunity to reflect on the important decision without too much noise around him.

“I injured my neck 15 minutes into the last game that we played in the PRO14. It was against the Dragons. I was tackled from behind and I was kind of pegged head first in the ground. I kept on playing, but the neck injury was way worse than what we expected. 

“I expected to make a full recovery being back in training with the boys now. With a mindset where you think everything is fine, then it is not, is pretty devastating.

“It has been a tough couple of months. During the lockdown, there was a lot of time to spend with my family and process this on my own. At the union, there were a lot of questions, but the lockdown gave me time to make peace with it.

Olivier fondly considers the 2015 season and last year’s Currie Cup campaign to be the highlights of his career, while his recurring ankle injury was no doubt the low.

“I would say that the 2015 Varsity Cup was pretty special. Going unbeaten and smashing everyone was great. A lot of our friends came through that season, and in the same year we also all played in the Vodacom Cup, Super Rugby and the Currie Cup. So it was a big year for us to break the mould and started playing good rugby. That was definitely the best year for me.

“The next two years were the lows. Having a big ankle injury, four operations on the same ankle which led to me missing out on two Super Rugby campaigns and a Currie Cup and a half. Just when I started playing again, it was another highlight to be in the PRO14 squad to play in those first few games. I was in the mix when I broke the same ankle in Ireland. Playing in Ireland in the first PRO14 games was also a highlight. 

“Winning the Currie Cup in 2019 was great, I loved that. The first three games of the PRO14 was great when we smashed three teams that we’d never been able to beat before.” 

The Ficksburg-born flanker admits that being on tour and hanging with the lads will be what he will miss the most.

“I have been thinking about what I am going to miss the most. Obviously being active and busy, but a major thing for me is that I am going to miss the boys the most. One gets used to being around the guys and teammates the whole time. You are colleagues but you share much more than being normal colleagues. I will definitely miss being around them, having coffees on tour and having a laugh. It is entertaining spending time with them, having a jol while also working. You know, just passing a ball on the field, joking around while having a good sweat and working hard. 

“It will definitely be something that I am going to miss, so I will have to find something to replace that with.”

At this stage, Olivier is not too certain of what the future may hold, but he has a few plans in place and this includes completing his degree in theology and converting his hobby into a sustainable business.

“I’ve got opportunities to go into the mental coaching side of things. I did study a bit of education and I am still busy studying theology. I will most likely end up working with people. I need to make up my salary, so I'm going to be doing a couple of things.

“I have kept myself busy with a couple of woodwork projects, but that was just playing around. I actually like making furniture, so I am going to be starting a woodworking business. Just creating quality furniture pieces. At this stage, it will just be from my garage and then hopefully growing it into something bigger and better. "

Olivier played in 23 Currie Cup games for the Free State Cheetahs and the last of those was the 2019 final against the Golden Lions in Bloemfontein. He also played in 28 PRO14 and two Super Rugby matches for the Cheetahs.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport