LISTEN: Pensive Lambie opens up on concussions, career highlights following retirement

The 28-year-old confirmed his decision over the weekend on social media, following medical advice as a result of multiple concussions suffered during his career.

It brings down the curtain on a stellar career, which saw Lambie play 56 Tests for the Springboks including two World Cups campaigns. He also amassed 71 Super Rugby caps and 30 Currie Cup appearances for the Sharks. He guided the Durban outfit to two memorable Currie Cup titles in 2010 and 2013 and captained the side before departing to play for French club Racing 92.

Speaking exclusively to East Coast Drive from his home in Paris, a pensive Lambie unpacked the series of events that have led to the untimely end of a fantastic rugby career.

His first serious concussion occured in 2016 when the Springboks took on Ireland in Cape Town. Irish flank CJ Stander attempted to charge down a kick and clattered into Lambie’s head resulting in the flyhalf being knocked out cold.

Lambie returned to action the following year, but suffered another concussion running into Sharks teammate Rhyno Smith in a Super Rugby match in June 2017.

After moving to Racing 92 a few months later, Lambie took another head knock in a Top 14 clash, the effects of which lasted 40 days. Lambie recovered and returned to action once again, but those would be his last few months back on the rugby field.

According to the flyhalf, he picked up a head knock in the European Champions Cup semi final against Munster in April 2018, the match before the final in which he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

“I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want to miss out on the final which was a bit silly,” Lambie said.

“Anyway I injured my knee and I thought ‘oh great maybe it's a blessing in disguise’ because it would give me a lot of time to get my knee and my head right. But the longer my knee rehab went on, the longer my symptoms lingered for and the more appointments I had with neurologists here in France.”

“Eventually it got to the point where I was sent to different specialists here and back in South Africa and the consensus was that it was better to stop my career considering the length of time it takes me to shake off my symptoms after these head knocks.  So I am taking the doctors advice and I’ve had to call the end of my career.”

The reality of the situation is that Lambie has been experiencing post-concussion symptoms for longer periods of time after each subsequent head knock, as he explained when comparing his first concussion in the Top 14 to the one he suffered in 2018.

“So I had a concussion on 30th December 2017 and that was when I had 40 days of post-concussion symptoms. Even when I started playing again, I probably didn’t realise it at the time but I probably wasn’t feeling my best. Since the knock in April, we’re almost 9 months later now and I’m still experiencing symptoms so I guess that makes this decision a little bit easier.”

Making the decision to retire from sport prematurely is an agonising one for any player and it is not done without careful consideration. In Lambie’s case, every option and avenue has been explored and he has been left with one outcome.

“We’ve tried everything before making this decision. I’ve tried rest, I’ve had three courses of medication and I’m still on some at the moment. We’ve tried neck treatments, eye rehabilitation, I’ve had treatment on my jaw, I’ve been on multi-vitamins, we’ve tried to monitor different exercises and what makes symptoms worse and what makes them better. So it’s been a really long journey and eventually the only thing left to do is continue medication, avoid any strenuous exercise and avoid any sports that require contact.”

Lambie said it is too soon to know what he will be doing in the immediate future after announcing his retirement. He will be wrapping up his knee rehabilitation with Racing 92 and doesn’t expect to leave France before the end of February at the soonest.

“After that I’m not exactly sure. I’m going to take these next few weeks to digest the decision and to see what options there are in life after rugby.”

Lambie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Management and said he’s still interested in the field, but was slightly apprehensive towards a career in coaching.

“I’m not convinced about the coaching route although I’m an open book at the moment. I would really like to give back in some way, but I’m not exactly sure how yet, if it’s skills, or advice or mentoring of some sort. We’ll wait and see what develops on that front. I’ve seen the stress that some of my coaches are under and I promised myself to avoid that stress as much as possible.”

Reflecting on a stellar career

Having matriculated in 2008 from Michaelhouse, it didn’t take Lambie long to break into the professional setup at the Sharks.

In his first year out of school, he made his senior Currie Cup debut, coming off the bench in a clash against the Griquas. The following year, he made his Super Rugby debut and quickly became a regular in the side.

He carried that form into the 2010 Currie Cup, which the Sharks went on to win. Lambie was the standout performer against Western Province in the final in Durban. He scored a total of 25 points, including two tries, three penalties and three conversions.

Lambie’s man of the match performance may have tipped the scales in his favour, as he earned his first call-up to the Springbok squad for the 2010 end of year tour. Lambie then made his Springbok debut against Ireland in Dublin at 20-years-old.

His early success earned him a reputation as a young player with an old head, and he went on to play big roles in two of the Springboks’ World Cup campaigns, and also helped the Sharks to another Currie Cup victory in 2013, as well as featuring in the 2012 Super Rugby final.

When asked to pick a particular career highlight, Lambie was hard-pressed to single out a specific instance and reflected on a number of moments that he holds dearly.

“I’m lucky to have had so many highs. I guess 2010 was the dream year, winning the Currie Cup with the Sharks and then going on the end of year tour with the Springboks. 2013 was also special, being involved with another winning team at the Sharks in the Currie Cup,” Lambie recalled.

“Captaining the Springboks in a Barbarians game at Wembley was definitely a huge high, being involved in two Rugby World Cup and the experience. I guess the big moment was that kick against New Zealand in 2014 which has been doing the rounds a bit on social media.” 

The 28-year-old paid tribute to former Sharks coach John Plumtree for giving him a chance as a youngster.

“I think I’m forever grateful to John Plumtree, who was coach when I first came onto the scene and he gave me my first opportunity at professional rugby.”

As he bids farewell to a game that he’s given his heart to, Lambie hopes that his calm, ever-humble attitude is what people will remember him for.

“I guess it's not so much the highlights on the field but more the person that I’ve been throughout my career. That would be more important to me that anything I’ve done on the field.”