From ‘darling’ to downward spiral: Derick Hougaard’s dramatic life post-rugby
After abruptly hanging up his boots in 2015, former Springbok and Loftus ‘darling’ Derick Hougaard’s life spiralled out of control.
While Derick Hougaard is fondly known as the “Liefling of Loftus,” his actions off the pitch as a celebrated former Springbok and Blue Bulls player has become the source of much scrutiny.
In the years since hanging up his boots in 2015, Derick has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. This includes his self-confessed addiction to prescription pills, heavy drinking, and his high-profile failed romances.
This week, Derick’s representatives confirmed that he had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Last year, the 41-year-old spent several weeks in a coma after contracting respiratory pneumonia. It’s unclear what cause the health setback.
DERICK HOUGAARD LATEST: ADMITTED TO PSYCH HOSPITAL
According to the Citizen, Derick Hougaard is set to spend a lengthy period of time in a Gauteng psychiatric hospital over his pain and sleeping pill addiction.
The publication claims that the former Springbok had been living with controversial diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg’s home in an attempt to stay clean.
Derick reportedly relapsed, forcing his family to take drastic measures.
His legal representative, Walter Niedinger, said: “Where he is now, he is completely cut off from the outside world. He does not have access to a mobile phone. We can’t contact him either.
“It is in his best interest that he gets the necessary medical help now. His team of doctors keep us informed”.
Derick is set to undergo extensive tests and scans to determine any brain damage after years of substance abuse.
DRAMATIC MOMENTS OFF THE PITCH
Messy break-ups
Derick Hougaard and Karlien were married from 2013 – 2015. Despite being considered the darlings of celebrity couples, their marriage was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride, the singer later said.
In a Facebook post in 2018, Karlien claimed that her ex-husband had a “pill and alcohol addiction” and had been “in and out of rehabilitation centres several times”.
She added that Derick had not paid for the children’s upkeep.
She continued: “Since I divorced Derick, I do everything in my power to give the boys a good life despite the fact that Derick has not been paying maintenance for years.”
According to TimesLive, Derick responded by saying; “Imagine what R100 000 over 20 years could mean for the twins? The right thing to do would be to invest the money for the twins, instead of just laying in a drawer”.