As he lay on the Toulouse Le Roux Malan feared his rugby career was over.
But three years later, that career is thriving as he prepares to reunite with his former team.
This 27-year-old center now goes about its business Wales with Cardiff Rugby retired from Hollywoodbets Sharks over the summer.
As fate would have it, BKT URC’s fixtures saw an early meeting with the Sharks visiting the Arms Park this Friday.
It will be a big night for Malan who has shown such resilience and determination to fight back against a gruesome injury sustained while playing for Namibia at the World Championship in France in September 2023.
During the group match against New Zealand at the Stadium de Toulouse, he suffered a catastrophic leg injury, dislocating his ankle, breaking his fibula and tearing his semi-tendinous tendon.
“It was caught in a really weird position,” he recalls.
“It was quite a terrifying experience to see my leg turned at a 90 degree angle.
“The first thing that came to my mind was that my career was over. The pain was unbearable.”
Malan was operated on the day of the injury and while he was in the hospital he received medical pain All black people New Zealand team jersey signed by all their players.
“The support I’ve had from everyone has been great, the All Blacks, World Rugby, the medics,” he said.
After initially returning home to Namibia, he undertook much of his rehabilitation at his club, New England Free Jacks in Boston, USA.
“They took me straight into their care, which shows what a great club it is. That was special,” he says.
“The first two months were very slow. It started with twice a week – mobility, scar tissue care. Then we stepped it up in the new year.
“In the beginning it was a process of healing and regaining strength. Then lifting heavy weights, a lot of fitness. They listened to me and how I felt, which helped me a lot because my body was not stretched. We went step by step. We went step by step.”
“They took very good care of me. I owe the Free Jacks medical staff so much.”
Just seven months after suffering the injury, Malan returned to action and it was to prove a dream comeback as he scored a try in the MLR Championship final, just like the year before, as the Free Jacks retained the title.
“It’s been a rollercoaster,” he says.
“Honestly, it was very emotional. The highs were extremely high and the lows were extremely low.
“It was probably the most challenging time of my life.
“It was a strange process, involving a lot of growth and experience. There was a little bit of everything.”
Spells with Hawkes Bay in New Zealand and the Sharks in South Africa – where he began his career – followed before he signed for Cardiff.
Explaining his move to Wales, he said: “I’ve always been someone who wanted to travel and rugby can take me anywhere.
“It was great. Cardiff is definitely one of the coolest places I’ve been. There’s a lot of history with the club as well. There’s been some legends here and it’s great to see what the 150th anniversary means to people.”
“Corniel van Zyl was also the coach of South Africa.
“It’s an opportunity to develop my game and learn from people.”
Born in Namibia’s capital Windhoek, Malan moved to South Africa with his family when he was two and went on to attend Paarl Boys High School in the Western Cape.
After playing Varsity Cup rugby for the University of Cape Town, he began his professional career with the Sharks in Durban before moving to the USA in 2022, with his Test debut for Namibia coming later that year.
Since joining Cardiff, Malan has made a really positive impression, starting all three of BKT URC’s matches and showing his versatility wearing both the 13 and 12.
Reflecting on his strengths, he says, “I pride myself on my work rate and effort. I’m a team player.
“I think I bring both communication and physicality. I pride myself on my contact ability.
“So I think those are strong attributes that I can bring to the team.”
The four-time center continued: “I’ve been everywhere and played and been coached by several different coaches of different nationalities.
“So I think I bring not only an edge to South Africa, but maybe to rugby as a whole.
“It was really interesting to learn all the different methodologies. It’s so contrasting.
“In South Africa it’s forward dominance and physicality. In New Zealand they keep the ball in the 16 plus phase at least four times a game.
“Back then in America I was surrounded by loads of different nationalities, your Islanders, your Europeans, South Africans, Australians, British. It definitely played a part in where I am today as a rugby player.
“I’m not just focused on a certain type of player, that’s definitely helped me.
“I’ve got a Welsh type of game now and I’m really excited to be here.
“I want to be a part of a winning culture and a part of something where I can see there’s growth, honesty and clarity.”
“I’m really good in the family and I have a sense of camaraderie and I pull everyone in the right direction.
“Meeting all these Welsh people and seeing what Cardiff means to them was great. Being part of the 150th year was great.”
