Eben Etzebeth has already established himself as one of the greatest Springboks of all time, having racked up 112 Test caps to date. At the age of 32, he could still play for years to come, which is an incredible prospect for the iconic lock.
Etzebeth is now plying his trade for the Sharks, and thanks to a special partnership with the Reach for a Dream Foundation, he surprised a young fan during a special meeting in Umhlanga.
Nine-year-old Blayke Fourie, who has been suffering from progressive kidney failure for the last four years, is a massive Springbok fan. In December, his father donated a kidney to him though, giving him a new lease on life.
Blayke met the entire Sharks team at Kings Park Stadium on Thursday, before then having a special lunch with Etzebeth.
Etzebeth humbled to meet a special fan
“It’s amazing spending time with a little child and being a father, being with children is such a blessing,” he commented.
The Springbok lock was part of another special fan engagement last year
During the 2023 World Cup, one of the greatest viral videos popped up on Tik Tok showing a young man watching the Springboks‘ thrilling victory over Rugby World Cup host nation, France, on 15 October.
One of the key moments in the match saw Etzebeth score a stunning solo try, with the young fan Siya Dlamini celebrating wildly, while shouting ‘Elizabedi’.
The video went viral, and the nickname seems to have stuck, with many subsequent videos showing the Springboks calling Etzebeth by this new nickname.
In a beautiful moment, the two were able to meet soon after as the Springboks continued their World Cup trophy tour in Cape Town, with the youngster running into the arms of Etzebeth.
After a warm embrace, the towering Bok lock commented: “You changed my name, hey.”