Raising a Springbok: The Hardest Part is Letting Go...

We talk about rugby players all the time. We almost never talk about the parents. In this episode of The Long Way to the Game, MW Welman and Paul Avenant sit down with Elrigh Louw’s father, Dawid Louw, to talk about what it’s actually like being the parent of a Springbok, from early promise and quiet sacrifices to the stress, pride and constant uncertainty that come with elite rugby.

Dawid shares what it felt like watching Elrigh climb the ladder, suffer a serious injury, disappear into rehab, and eventually find his way back onto the field. There is honesty about fear, social media noise, not always being in the loop, and the strange balance between being a dad and knowing when to step back. It is thoughtful, raw at times, and a reminder that behind every professional jersey is a family riding the emotional rollercoaster with them.

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What It’s Like Raising a Springbok (No One Tells You This)