Bok coach Rassie Erasmus and wife Nicolene have reportedly divorced after 20 years together
According to reports, Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus and his spouse Nicolene have called it quits after 20 years of marriage. At the end of April, Erasmus, the team captain and brains behind the Springboks’ winning streak in the Rugby World Cup, and his now-ex-wife reportedly finalized their divorce. The Afrikaans magazine Huisegenoot was able to obtain court documents proving the finalization of the divorce between N. Erasmus (Nicolene) and J. Erasmus (Johan) on April 29. The report claims that because the couple was no longer living together, their friends and family were aware that their relationship was failing.
In response to a publication request for additional information regarding the divorce, Erasmus’ attorney stated, “Lawyers… do not comment on clients’ personal matters.”
When contacted, a SA Rugby representative declined to comment on the situation. Erasmus is in Cape Town right now, where the Springboks are getting ready for the forthcoming international season with an alignment camp. On June 22, the world champions will host Wales in London to begin the season. After that, they’ll play a highly anticipated series against Ireland in July before playing Portugal for the first time in Bloemfontein.
The Springboks will play two Test matches in Australia to start their Rugby Championship campaign in August, followed by games in Cape Town and Johannesburg against the All Blacks.
Springboks face injuries, suspension crises ahead of Test matches
Prior to the Ireland Test series, Springboks center Lukhanyo Am is recovering from injuries to his shoulders and ribs. Image courtesy of Michael Bradley/AFP Jasper Wiese, a loose forward for South Africa that won the World Cup, was suspended for six games on Thursday, which means he will miss the team’s Test matches against Wales, Ireland, Portugal, and Australia. This strike comes after Springboks fullback Damian Willemse suffered a hand injury over the weekend, which will probably keep him out of action until his tour of Australia in August.
Outside center Lukhanyo Am is a possible scratch for the two highly anticipated home Test matches against Ireland in July due to shoulder and rib injuries. The Stormers and Sharks teams confirmed that Willemse and Am had sustained injuries, and the Rugby Football Union issued a statement announcing Wiese’s suspension. In his final game for the Leicester Tigers last Saturday, Wiese was sent off after forcing an Exeter Chiefs opponent to crash into the ground with his head during a ruck. The forward’s club career has been put on hold as he serves his ban in international competitions. He won’t be available for the world champions until their match against New Zealand on August 31. During the penultimate regular-season round of the United Rugby Championship, Willemse and Am sustained injuries.
In a matchup between the top two teams in the rankings, South Africa will host Ireland on July 6 and 13, following their June 22 opening match against Wales in London. Ireland defeated the Springboks 13–8 in a pool match in Paris last year, the only setback the team experienced en route to a record-breaking fourth World Cup victory. Following their July 20 Test match against Portugal in Bloemfontein, South Africa will play two Rugby Championship matches in Australia on August 10 and 17. In the southern hemisphere competition, the world champions have two matches each against Argentina and New Zealand prior to the November Test matches in Scotland, England, and Wales.
