Derick’s heartbreaking prognosis: A Springbok dream shattered

Derick Hougaard, the former Springbok-kicking king, opened up about the devastating day a doctor told him he would never become a Springbok.

DERICK’S HEARTBREAKING PROGNOSIS

Hougaard who stole the hearts of rugby fans in the early 2000s, was consequently dubbed “The darling of Loftus”.

ALSO READ: WATCH: A peek into Derick Hougaard’s story

A documentary series, Hougaard: Liefling van Loftus, is being broadcast on kykNET on Wednesday evenings.

The series contains six episodes during which Derick undertakes a brave journey against the background of rugby to find out what is the cause of his personal problems.

ALSO READ: Derick Hougaard: Toxicology report will be made available soon

DERICK WAS TAKEN TO A DOCTOR FOR HE CHRONIC BACK PAIN HE ENDURED

Since his glory days as Blue Bull legend and Springbok, Derick has experienced a downward spiral marked by public embarrassment and gossip stories.

In the latest episode, Derick shared the day he was taken to a doctor for the chronic back pain he endured as a teenager.

ALSO READ: Derick Hougaard has a 50% chance of waking up from coma

‘I WILL NEVER FORGET THE SMIRK ON HIS FACE..’

“I’ll never forget that smirk on that man’s face as he laughed and said: You will be fine as long as you keep training the way you are.

“You just won’t ever be a Springbok. He laughed and said your vertebrae are deteriorating, and while exercise will keep your body stronger and your pain levels will decrease significantly but, over time, it won’t.

“I left without greeting him and rushed to the bathroom.

“Breaking the news to a guy that his dreams have been crushed, and instead of crushing it with compassion, you laugh in his face as you do it.

“And I just thought,’ well, all that’s left now is to become a Springbok way quicker. I can’t wait until I am 22.

“If the guy says I dont have time, then I dont have time, but who says I can’t be a Springbok at the age of 19 or 20?”

Derick Hougaard

ALSO READ: UPDATE: Derick Hougaard at home, but ‘extremely weak’

‘YOU JUST WON’T EVER BE A SPRINGBOK AND HE LAUGHED’

Derick was 19 years old when he started his rugby career in 2002. He made his Springbok debut the following year in the Rugby World Cup and became a crowd favourite.

Eight years following his first World Cup, Derick was carried off the field during a match for his British club team Saracens after he tore his Achilles tendon.

This was a traumatic end to his career.

DERICK WAS 19 WHEN HE STARTED HIS RUGBY CAREER IN 2002

Derick was later diagnosed with depression, and he told the media that he became addicted to sleeping pills.

“I was depressed and in a deep, dark place because I could no longer live my rugby dream. The side effects of the medication and the knowledge that I’d never play professionally again broke me,” he said.

In the first episode, he said that he sometimes still broods over the past.

EIGHT YEARS LATER HE WAS CARRIED OFF THE FIELD

“Rugby and everything that came with it took a lot out of my life. I try not to think about it every day,” said Derick.

The kykNET documentary series, Hougaard: Liefling van Loftus is on Wednesdays at 20:00 and will also be available on Catch Up and DStv Stream.

ALSO READ: A fighter! Derick Hougaard OFF the ventilator, breathing on his own