SCHALK BURGERS GETS LAUREUS AWARDS NOMINATION

Schalk Burger's fightback from a life-threatening illness to once again play a key role in the South African international rugby team is one of the most inspirational sporting stories of the year and makes him a strong contender for Nomination for the 2015 Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award.

One of the outstanding players in South African rugby, Schalk Burger fought through injuries and life-threatening meningitis to return to the Springboks team in 2014. He had a cyst next to his spinal chord and went into hospital for treatment, but developed bacterial meningitis and was moved to intensive care. He said: "There was a critical stage for nearly five days in which there was a lot of uncertainty. I was in isolation and I was seriously ill, so ill in fact that some people around me thought 'this is it'." His parents were called to the hospital to say 'goodbye'.

He recovered and made a remarkable comeback, being picked for the Springboks squad to play against Australia and New Zealand in the Rugby Championship. Then he was named man of the match in the November victory over England at Twickenham, in which he scored the decisive third try. Doctors said the average person would never have made it back to top class competition, let alone be named man of the match in such a high pressure game.



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