Former Springbok Derick Hougaard’s Turbulent Post-Rugby Life Unraveled

Former Springbok and Blue Bulls player Derick Hougaard, known as the ‘Liefling of Loftus,’ has plunged into a series of controversies post his rugby career.

Reports indicate that Derick is currently receiving treatment at a psychiatric hospital in Gauteng due to his addiction to prescription pills and sleeping medications.

Living at the residence of controversial figure Louis Liebenberg, Derick struggled with substance abuse, leading to his family making the decision to intervene.

Legal representative Walter Niedinger affirmed that Derick is cut off from external communication and undergoing medical assessments for potential brain damage from years of addiction.

Derick’s personal life has been marred by messy break-ups, notably with ex-wife Karlien, and recent split from girlfriend Nadine, both singers.

During a 2018 incident, Karlien reported their twin boys, Eliah and Daniel, missing while in Derick’s care, creating a public frenzy that was later resolved.

In a 2023 docuseries on KykNET, Derick openly discussed his struggles with alcohol and drug dependency following an abrupt end to his rugby career, which commenced at 19 in Loftus Versveld.

Amidst the turmoil, Derick made headlines for demanding his R100k wedding ring back from Karlien post-divorce, prompting a public exchange involving singer Bobby van Jaarsveld.