"Bokke"

 A few days ago, my wife and I were on our way to pick up Wolfie from school when I saw a man walking on the other side of the street. He was wearing a green hoodie with the words Bokk printed on it. So I recognised right away the nickname of the Springboks. I was happy that I picked it up. I know nothing about rugby, far too little for my taste in fact, but at least I know about the Springboks. It's sort of my team, even though I don't follow rugby: my father-in-law is South African and he is of course a massive Springboks supporter. So is his son. Therefore out of family solidarity, I support the South African team. To my wife's dismay, as she is English and, well, she supports the English team. So anyway, I did not shout "Go Bokke!" to him. Maybe I should have had.

A Springboks supporter

We went downtown yesterday, to run some errands (among them getting Wolfie a haircut, he looked like a darn hippy) and just as we were getting in the high street I saw a man crossing our path, wearing a Springbok jersey. I didn't say a word, but I regret it. I wish I had said hello. I know very little, if anything about rugby. But my father-in-law is South African, a rugby fan, and more importantly a die hard Bokke supporter. Therefore I have decided a few years ago that the Sprinboks were my rugby team too. I didn't stop the guy to strike up a conversation and tell him that, but I wish I had. Although if I had done he might have thought I'm such a weirdo, especially since I know diddly squat about rugby. But hey, I understand South Africans are friendly and chatty people, so maybe I missed an opportunity to make an acquaintance.

About the Springboks

 With all the busy month I had last month, I did not have time to blog about one bit of exciting news that made my in-laws very happy. Well, my father-in-law that is: South Africa won the Rugby World Cup. He is South African and a lifelong supporter of the Springboks. Wolfie was happy too: he wanted South Africa to win. I have yet to watch a full match and understand any of it (I had a crash course, but that was a long time ago.) Yet, I have decided to support South Africa on principle: because of my in-laws, because Wolfie now supports South Africa, because I love many South African artists  (okay, not that many, but those I love, I really love) and well, these are all very good reasons. So yeah, I come late at the party, but congratulations Bokke, you were, you are, amazing.

Bokke supporters in the park

Last weekend, we went with my wife's family in a local park. So we were our family, her sister, her sister's partner and Wolfie's cousin and of course the parents/grandparents. As the children were playing, I saw a little boy and her dad. The boy was about three or four and I recognised right away that he wore a Springbok shirt. The Springboks are of course the South African rugby team. As you may remember, my father-in-law is South African and a big rugby fan, he is also of course a Springboks supporter. I sitll know zilch about rugby and never watch it, but I have decided that South Africa is "my" team. I was tempted to say a word to the father of the boy and see the reasons why they are Bokke supporters, but I did not in the end. Still, I find it a bit strange that I can now recognise a rugby jersey.

A crash course in rugby

Yesterday, during our first family gathering for the first time since the pandemic (and before), I had the priviledge to receive my first ever crash course in rugby since I have been living in this country. My father-in-law is South African, thus his son, my wife's brother, is half South African, and they are both rugby fans. For them, rugby is serious business. As there was a game between South Africa and Britain, they of course decided to watch it. Both, of course, support the Springboks. It makes sense that Wolfie and I do too (to my wife's dismay, she remains, in this sport and others, loyal to England). I cannot say that I remembered all the terminology and would understand all the rules, but I could sort of  follow yesterday's game between the Springboks and the Lions. I didn't watch it all as we had to go, but it was really entertaining. I wish I had tried to watch rugby years ago, because this was exciting to watch and, as brutal as it was, kind of elegant. I'm really glad Wolfie has some South African blood and has access to this culture through his mother's family. Oh and in the end the Springboks won. Go Bokke!