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Cape Town - Former Springbok hooker Tiaan Liebenberg has his sights set on making a return to rugby.
Liebenberg, 34, retired after injuring his back in a Currie Cup game for Western Province in 2014.
According to Netwerk24, a phone call last year from former team-mate Duane Vermeulen persuaded him to change his mind.
Vermeulen underwent a neck operation before last year’s Rugby World Cup and he advised Liebenberg to see the same specialist, Stephan Joubert.
Joubert previously also performed successful operations on Springboks Willem Alberts (back) and Bismarck du Plessis (neck).
According to Liebenberg, listening to a TV interview with Jean de Villiers where the then Bok captain spoke of his desire to keep playing, further convinced him to make a comeback.
Liebenberg was eventually operated on in October last year and is currently in training at the Free State sports institute and if he passes fitness tests over the next four weeks, he may feature for the Cheetahs.
Liebenberg, who played five Tests for the Springboks in 2012, joined WP from Griquas in 2006, playing for the Cape franchise for eight years.
