Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus has shared a glimpse of his humble beginnings, including the “Oom” who helped raise him.

The SA Rugby director tweeted for the first time this week following the team’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final victory against England last weekend.

 

 

The Boks will face New Zealand’s All Blacks on Saturday, 28 October.In his first tweet all week, Rassie Erasmus shared a pic that hit close to home.

In it was a man dear to his heart.

He tweeted: “Hierdie Oom Awie het my help grootmaak op die plaas [This Uncle Awie helped raised me on the farm]”.

In the pic, “Oom Awie” wore a Springboks cap and gave a thumbs up.Rassie – real name Johan – was born in the small town of Dispatch in the Eastern Cape. Before becoming a player himself, he enrolled in the military, where he would met now Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber.According to the Independent, Erasmus had a difficult childhood, with his father’s struggles with alcoholism later helping him connect with players from similar experiences.

His mother is still alive and recently celebrated her 83rd birthday.According to Rugby World, Rassie Erasmus is married to Nicolene, who is a former nurse.

The couple have been married for over 20 years and are parents to three daughters, twins Nikki and Carli, and a younger child, Janie.