Schalk: I rucked with death

It took a microscopic germ to do what no hulking rugby player had managed to achieve - fell the mighty Schalk Burger. Now the decorated Springbok flank is fighting back.

In March, Burger contracted bacterial meningitis that nearly cost his life following surgery to drain fluid from an arachnoid cyst attached to his spinal column. After a further three back operations to remove the cyst, he is attempting what will be a make-or-break comeback.

Burger's casual tone when relaying the seriousness of his illness does not conceal the grave period he endured.

"There was a critical stage for about four, nearly five days in which there was a lot of uncertainty," he says. "In that period I was in isolation and I was seriously ill - so ill, in fact, that some people around me thought 'This is it'.

"I had severe headaches, nausea and several convulsions while the doctors battled to pinpoint the exact strain of meningitis that I had.

"I didn't have a full seizure but it was close and I was seriously, seriously ill. I was just unlucky to contract the bug but it's always a risk when you're cut open, I suppose.

"In all I spent six weeks in hospital and another eight basically at home doing very little. I've only just started going out now and I'm doing some light cycling and walks up in Newlands forest.

"On the positive side, I've managed to spend some quality time with my wife and baby son, which has been phenomenal."

The cyst was discovered only after an MRI scan to find the cause of a persistent calf-muscle problem following a 10-month knee ligament-injury lay-off.

Doctors decided to drain the cyst, which is often asymptomatic because it is usually a congenital disorder.

"The doctors aren't sure what caused the cyst. Some suggest it's trauma-related, that could indicate it came from a rugby injury, but we're not certain," Burger says.

"It was my decision to drain it and after they had done it, analysis of the contents revealed it was benign. But then I fell ill and that influenced the success of the drainage operation. Once I'd recovered, the only option left was to remove it."

The 30-year-old is hoping to resume his rugby career but there are no guarantees he will succeed in doing so. He says he feels lucky just to be healthy again.

"You get to a point where your health is most important and rugby is not a consideration, but now that I'm recovering well I want to play rugby again .

"I'll have to be cautious. I won't over-commit, but after my next checkup in seven weeks I'll take another decision about my future," he says.

"I won't say my return to rugby is definite, but that's what I'm striving towards."