COVER FEATURE
MORE THAN RUGBY That sense of humour makes De Klerk easy to connect with, while the manic energy seen on the rugby field is not entirely an act.
“ I am pretty energetic,” he says. Away from rugby, he tries to enjoy the small things, maintain a positive outlook, and, preferably, laugh rather than cry.“ I’ m a very relaxed guy,” he says.“ Rather laugh than cry.”
That does not mean the competitive edge disappears. Far from it. Once he steps onto the field, the relaxed Faf makes way for a player determined to win. It is an instinct that has helped fuel one of the most recognisable careers in modern South African rugby. That competitive fire is still burning.
STILL AMBITIOUS Now with the Cheetahs, De Klerk is not simply winding down his career. He wants to perform, help the team succeed and remain part of the Springbok conversation.“ I think if you lose that, then it’ s time to hang up your boots,” he says of ambition.
“ I want to see if I can get myself back into the mix with the Springboks.”
For now, his franchise target is clear: help the Cheetahs achieve success, perform at his best, and use his experience to help develop the next generation. He wants to guide younger players coming through and give them the tools to take the club forward.
Family has also reshaped his priorities. De Klerk admits it is something people can easily take for granted until they stop and think about what it really means.
Now a husband and father to two young daughters, he wants to be the best he can be in those roles, while giving his family the stability and support they need. For someone who has spent years travelling the world, playing in packed stadiums and chasing rugby’ s biggest prizes, that sense of home matters more than ever.
His idea of heritage has evolved with it. It encompasses the people who shaped him, the country he represents, the family he is raising, and the example he leaves behind. When the rugby boots eventually come off, De Klerk does not want to be remembered only for the trophies, blond hair, endless energy, or famous underwear. He wants to be remembered as a warrior.“ Never back down for anything or anyone,” he says.
Then comes the simplest description of the legacy he hopes to leave:“ That never-die attitude.”
Back in South Africa, building a future with his family and still chasing success in orange and green and gold, Faf de Klerk is not finished yet. IB
THE FAST AND THE FAF
Biltong or droëwors: which one belongs in your travel bag? Droëwors. Braai or potjie: which one wins the ultimate South African food debate? Braai. What South African song instantly takes you back home? Leon Schuster’ s Hier Kom Die Bokke. If you had to introduce a foreign teammate to one South African tradition, what would it be? Brandewyn. What’ s one South African saying or slang word you find yourself using wherever you are?“ Lekker!”