Eben Etzebeth Shares Emotional Message After Springbok Return: “What a Privilege!”
- Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth made an emotional return to the green and gold after a lengthy absence caused by suspension and injury
- His comeback came against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday 8 August 2026
- Etzebeth took to Instagram to share what the return meant to him, and fans poured out their support online
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Eben Etzebeth is back in green and gold. South Africa's most-capped Springbok posted on Instagram on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, reflecting on his return to the national squad after a painful absence that stretched nearly 10 months.
"What a privilege to be able to put on the sweater again!" the veteran lock wrote, sharing the post with his followers.
Source: Getty Images
The road back was far from straightforward. In September 2025, Etzebeth received a red card during a Rugby Championship clash against Wales after being cited for an eye-gouging offence against Alex Wann. The subsequent 12-match suspension ruled him out for a significant stretch of the season.
Once he had served the ban, another setback followed. A knock to the head during Springbok training ahead of the 4 July Test against England forced him to withdraw from the squad. He sat out both the England and Scotland July internationals as a result.
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Etzebeth's return against Argentina
His long-awaited comeback finally arrived on 8 August 2026, when he took the field against Argentina in Buenos Aires. Coach Rassie Erasmus had specifically selected the match as an opportunity to restore key players to match sharpness, with Etzebeth among those prioritised.
Erasmus gave his assessment of Etzebeth’s return and was particularly impressed by the 34-year-old’s physical contribution. His return also took his South African record to 142 Test appearances.
Springboks fans show Etzebeth love
Mzansi rugby fans were thrilled to see him back, and the comments on his post reflected the warmth of the reception.
@cands1989 wrote:
"Legends — my son loves watching rugby. He plays #4/5 lock as well so you guys are his rugby heroes! Behind green and gold all the way! 😁"
@hiltoncraig1987 said:
"Wat 'n voorreg om julle weer saam te sien speel 🔥🙌❤️" ("What a privilege to see you playing together again.")
@emma_demmer added:
"Great game, Eben! Welcome back, and good luck with the upcoming games. 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦"
Rassie Erasmus’ heart rate spikes during Argentina thriller
Briefly News previously reported that Rassie Erasmus revealed just how tense the Springboks’ 17-10 victory over Argentina became from inside the coaches’ box. The Bok boss shared a glimpse of his heart rate data after the match.
The revelation came as Erasmus and his team quickly turned their attention to the All Blacks and the upcoming Greatest Rivalry Series, with the first Test scheduled for 22 August.
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Source: Briefly News
