A few Springboks escape from Japan
UPDATE: A fortunate encounter helped Springboks No.8 Duane Vermeulen return to South Africa.
Last week it was revealed that several Springboks were stranded in Japan after an international airline cancelled all flights to South Africa due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.
Duane Vermeulen posted a video on Twitter that showed a group of people stuck at the airport.
The group included Vermuelen, Jesse Kriel, Malcolm Marx, former Springboks coach Allister Coetzee, former Bulls and Lions coach Frans Ludeke and former Cheetahs flyhalf Fred Zeilinga.
* READ: Springboks stuck in Japan
However, following various failed attempts to return home and with very little hope left Vermeulen was sent a message by a South African who he had met by chance, Alizane van der Merwe.
The lady he remembers as ‘the girl with the purple hair’ told him she would be flying out on Ethiopian Airlines on Wednesday.
According to the Rapport, Vermeulen flew from Tokyo to Seoul in South Korea and then to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, before eventually landing in Cape Town on late Thursday afternoon.
“I remember her as the girl with the purple hair,” Vermeulen told Rapport.
“She told me the flight was leaving and also gave me the counter number.
“Because I couldn’t book online, I begged them to accept cash. Fortunately, the airline agreed, and I was able to pay cash for the ticket.
He added: “After 24 hours, I was finally back in the Cape, and I am now in self-isolation,”
Caio Italia,Today while in a 21 day lockdown with my family we are thinking of you as a nation. Your country has a very special place in our hearts as both of my boys gave their very first steps in Italy. Making pizzas in honor of all the Italian people.Our prayers are with you🙏 pic.twitter.com/NKqmTZbeg1
— Duane Vermeulen (@duane_vermeulen) March 29, 2020
The Afrikaans newspaper also reported that Reniel Hugo, Clinton Swart and Carl Wegner were on the same flight as Vermeulen, while Kriel, SP Marais, Jan de Klerk, Kobus van Dyk and Rynier Bernardo flew home together. Albertus Smith also landed back in South Africa.
However, unfortunately, OFM reported that up to ten South African players are still stranded in the Land of the Rising Sun, including the World Cup-winning Springboks, RG Snyman, Malcolm Marx and Damian de Allende.
Aside from the Springbok trio, Jean Droste, Lionel Cronje, Jason Jenkins and Matthys Basson are part of the group still reportedly stranded in Japan.
Sources: Rapport & OFM
