South Africans ended Heritage Month on a high note after our beloved sports team, the Springboks, faced off against Argentina in the Rugby Championship competition.
This intense competition features teams from South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina battling for the title of champions of the Southern Hemisphere. Following a triumphant season, the Boks secured a resounding 48-7 victory over Argentina, ultimately claiming the championship.
In addition to this, they managed to collect silverware in each of the major matches they competed in over the last few months winning trophies like the Qatar Airways Cup, The Nelson Mandela Plate, Freedom Cup and the Rugby Championship.
Under the leadership of their coach Dr Rassie Erasmus, rugby pundits from all over the world have argued that this could be the greatest Springbok team ever. If so, every good thing must stem from somewhere, and for many of these players, rugby and sport run through their blood.
We therefore decided to look at some of our favourite players and their famous relatives in sport.
Damian Willemse and Ramone Samuels
Aside from Springbok fullback, Willie Le Roux, 26-year-old utility back Damian Willemse and his older brother Ramone are two of the biggest exports to come from the coastal town of Strand in the Western Cape.
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Their journey in rugby is somewhat similar as they both started playing the game in primary school before receiving a bursary to attend the prestigious Paul Roos Gymnasium Rugby School in Stellenbosch. The school is known for having produced abundant Springboks over the years many of which won the 2019 and 2023 World Cups.
While the older Ramone had a head start in his professional career, his brother Damian soon joined him at the Western Province Rugby Club where they won their first Currie Cup together.
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The pair also ventured into business by establishing their burial company Samwill Funerals which now also features on Showsmax’s series, Die Ondernemers.
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Jaden and Jordon Hendrikse
One is an outstanding fly-half, while his older brother is the calmest when under pressure, but behind all the skill and talent are two gentlemen who have been made for big moments.
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Jayden and his younger brother Jordan could be the first sibling pairing that will be playing a Springbok game together after a long time of sibling absence. This comes after both players received their Springbok call-ups in recent times.
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Jaden was one of four scrum-halves that partook in last year’s Rugby World Cup, while his 22-year-old brother Jordan made his debut against Wales earlier this year. While Jordan previously played his rugby at the Lions in Joburg, he recently joined the Sharks in Durban, the same club that his brother plays for.
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Jesse and Daniel Kriel
Because of his outstanding physique and rapid speed, Jesse Kriel has become a fan favourite in recent years. Not only is he a try-scoring machine but can also play multiple positions in the backline. However, we may never have been exposed to this outstanding player in Jesse, if it were not for his twin brother Daniel Kriel who because of his bigger physique excelled in the sport – this spurred Jesse to do the same.
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Meanwhile, the two went on to represent the Blue Bulls, as well as the Junior Springboks before going their separate ways in their rugby careers. Dan is currently playing the sport in the US.
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Cheslin Kolbe and Wade van Niekerk
Perhaps the two most known sportsmen in South Africa are the double World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe and the 400m Olympic record holder Wade van Niekerk, both superstars in their own right.
The proud cousins are one another’s biggest supporters. In an interview with StormersTV, Wade recalled how they used to race in the street and play touch rugby to now both being successful.
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“It excites me every time I get to see what he does on the rugby field. I show off a lot with his name, whenever people tease me about rugby, all I say is that Cheslin is my cousin and I’ve won the battle,” Wade confessed.
Recently Wade and his family also attended the launch of the Cheslin Kolbe Foundation.
Also see: Marc Lottering, Springboks and Dricus du Plessis fly SA flag in Australia
