‘It’s not easy’: Springbok's honest admission of Exeter deal
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South Africans making a living overseas is nothing new. However, that lucrative deal is also accompanied by some big sacrifices.
One player who has been very honest about the rewards and struggles is Joseph Dweba.
The Springbok hooker joined Exeter Chiefs from the Stormers at the start of the PREM season.
The 29-year-old has made four appearances for the Chiefs and scored a try in the PREM Rugby Cup win over Bath.
While things have gone well on the field, life off it has been an adjustment.
Dweba’s family travelled with him when he initially moved to Devon, but have now returned to South Africa, leaving him on his own.
Even though he enjoyed the quiet for a couple of weeks, Dweba told Rugbypass he misses family life.
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“The family came over to see me off. They went back to South Africa, where my wife is studying and my son and daughter are at school. So I’m basically by myself,” Dweba revealed to Rugbypass.
“I miss my kids. They are a big driving factor for why I do things, and not having them around is a bit tough. It was okay for the first couple of weeks, but going into your flat and just looking at four walls, you want them next to you.
“I speak to them every day. It’s not easy, but we catch up as best we can. Obviously, technology helps a lot, but this is the longest I’ve been away from them. Previously, it was three weeks when I’d go on tour with South Africa.
“Definitely, this is the longest time I’ve been without them. But it’s a sacrifice that we all have to make. I’m not the first one, and I’m not going to be the last one.
“But as a man, you need to make sure your family is sorted out.”
The Springbok hooker, who won the last of his six caps against Argentina in August 2023, also had the option of joining Sale Sharks for a much sweeter deal.
However, he opted for Exeter Chiefs.
“I didn’t jump at it straight away because my wife [Nomonde] and I were still deciding if she was going to study or not.
“When she decided to study, I didn’t jump into the offer because I wanted her to follow her dreams [of becoming a lawyer].
“She has been following my dreams for such a long time, so I thought I would sacrifice a little bit and stick it out for her, but things didn’t work out as planned.
“So, we sat down and said I’ve got this opportunity [Exeter]; I’d be stupid not to take it. I didn’t take the other opportunity, but then this one came through, and we said I’d be stupid not to take it.”
Source: Rugbypass
