Springboks’ stand-in skipper Eben Etzebeth will be given time to decide his availability for this weekend’s Test against the All Blacks after his father, Harry, passed away on Tuesday night in Cape Town.
News of the tragedy was shared by leading South African rugby writer Hendrik Cronje, who revealed it via social media.
Cronje also confirmed that the decision on whether Etzebeth will remain in New Zealand to participate in the Test against the All Blacks at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland on Saturday, or whether he will return to South Africa, will be made by him.
According to South African media reports, Harry was battling an illness which meant he could not travel.
That led to Eben making a request to Springbok management for him to play against Wales in Bloemfontein last year as he wanted to make his 100th appearance in Cape Town a week later during the three-Test series.
Current SA Rugby Player of the Year
Etzebeth, who was crowned as the 2022 SA Rugby Player of the Year in January, suffered a shoulder injury in the Sharks’ Champions Cup round-of-16 victory over Munster in Durban on April 1 and was on the sidelines for a lengthy period.
At the time, it was said that the Springbok enforcer would be sidelined for up to 16 weeks, but he has recovered earlier than expected and was set to return to action as the Boks’ captain this weekend.
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