Read more
WATCH: Have you hugged a Bok today? Young fan meets his ‘Elizabedi’
The young Springbok fan who christened Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth 'Elizabedi', has finally met his hero.
Eben Etzebeth meets Siya Dlamini who ‘christened’ the Springbok lock ‘Elizabedi’ in a viral TikTok video. Photos: Tiktok (iwa_ziii); Franco Arland/ Getty Images and X (@Springboks)
The overjoyed reaction of a Volksrust youngster when he finally gets to meet his “Elizabedi” in the flesh will go down as one of those epic “Stronger Together” Springbok trophy tour moments.
As one X (formerly Twitter) user aptly put it after watching the video posted on the Springboks’ social media account: “Nou tjank ek sommer weer”…
ALSO READ: ‘Blessings upon blessings’: Anlia and Eben Etzebeth’s big #RWC2023 ‘reveal’!
How Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth became ‘Elizabedi’
Siya Dlamini, from Volksrust, in Mpumalanga, went viral on TikTok for hilariously screaming “Elizabedi” when Bok lock Etzebeth “Elizabedi” scored a crucial try against France in the nail-biting Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.
Since the video was shared on the TikTok account of Iwa_ziii , even Bok captain Siya Kolisi started referring to Etzebeth by his new nickname.
@lwa_ziii Pov: He’d really love to go to the finals to see Eben, lets tag @Rugby World Cup , @Springboks.rugby and @Eben Etzebeth till they see this 😭😭😭 #SAMA28 #lwazizulu #worldcup #RSA #springboksrugby #fyp #viral #rwc2023 ♬ original sound – Jesus’ Baby Girl🥹🫶🏽
ALSO READ: Eben Etzebeth takes next step to becoming the most capped Springbok
WATCH: Adoring fan meets his ‘Elizabedi’
In the trophy tour video, the boy makes a beeline for the Etzebeth when the towering Springbok enters the hall and tackles him with a hug. And then another.
“You changed my name, hey!” Etzebeth – sporting his “JR Snyman haircut” – says to his adoring young, who is smiling from ear to ear at his Bok hero, Elizabedi.
“How do you say his name,” someone asks Siya, before he emphatically responds: “Elizabedi! Elizabedi!’
ALSO READ: WATCH: Incredible scenes from Boks’ Cape Town trophy tour
Springbok World Cup trophy tour
The four-time world champions will be in Durban (Saturday, 4 November) before concluding in the Eastern Cape (East London) on Sunday, 5 November.
The locations have been selected for population size in the first three instances and because of the Eastern Cape’s rugby significance in the fourth.
Satellite tours to Bloemfontein, Nelson Mandela Bay and other cities will be scheduled for 2024.
