TWO-TIME rugby World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff has been forced to retire after a sickening injury left him “two millimetres from death.” The South Africa star, 33, helped his nation win rugby’s top prize in 2019 and 2023. DHL Stormers ace Kitshoff started both matches against England and New Zealand respectively. But he has not played a single game of rugby since September after suffering a gruesome injury. The prop was playing in a cup game in South Africa when the incident occurred. Kitshoff suffered a serious neck injury during the match. He was forced to undergo surgery after a specialist told the star he was lucky to still be alive. Kitshoff, who was capped 83 times by the Springboks, said: “I was two millimetres away from catastrophe, from death.” After going under the knife, Kitshoff was unable to regain full movement of his neck. And he has now called time on his rugby career after being advised that playing again would likely result in another injury. Kitshoff added: “It was obviously incredibly disappointing for my career to end in this way. “But unfortunately the risk to my wellbeing was simply too high. “I really wanted to finish my story with the DHL Stormers on the pitch and gave the rehab and comeback the best shot I could, but it was not to be.” South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus paid tribute to Kitshoff following the announcement. He said: “He is a true team man, and he earned enormous respect from his team-mates and the coaches with his high work ethic, drive to be the best he can on the field, and his down-to-earth nature. “He will always remain a warrior and fine ambassador of what the Springboks stand for, and we wish him luck as he begins this new chapter in his life.”