The day Rassie 'bowled over' Canadian tourists
SPOTLIGHT: Johan ‘Rassie’ Erasmus is a world-renowned and decorated two-time World Cup-winning coach.
However, it is the more ‘humble’ side of Erasmus that bowled over a group of Canadian schoolboys.
Andrew Russell, a Cape Town-based organiser of sports and cultural tours to South Africa, explained how a chance meeting with the Springbok coach presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the boys of the Ashbury College rugby team.
Ashbury College is an independent school located in the Rockcliffe Park area of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is an offshoot of the Bishop’s College School in Quebec.
“As my Ashbury College team were checking into their rooms on their first day, I saw Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus walking out of our hotel,” Russell said.
“I told him I had a school group from Ottawa on a rugby tour.
“He told me he was there for a Springbok alignment camp and that I must bring the coaches over to their hotel conference venue when I can, and he will say hi.”
When the Canadians’ Robben Island ferry was cancelled, Russell and a few of them walked over to the venue.
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Erasmus was having breakfast and when he was finished, he went down and greeted them.
“I then found Eben Etzebeth [the most capped Bok of all time] and he said he would happily meet them.
“We were on a rugby tour and my coaches are meeting a double World Cup-winning coach and a Bok legend.
“Unbelievable.
“And Rassie – what a humble, down-to-earth guy.
“What an incredible gesture to come and chat to these strangers.
“But he understands how much it means to true rugby people to meet him.
“He even let one of the coaches video him making some comments.”
Source: Cape Africa Tours
