Springbok and Toulon lock Eben Etzebeth is happy to have been given the chance to reunite with his family in South Africa during the country’s lockdown.

According to French publication Midi Olympique, Etzebeth had to fight hard to get permission to return to South Africa as Toulon turned down a number of requests for him to leave France.

Like all other leagues around the world, the Top 14 is on an indefinite break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Toulon’s players have been put on partial unemployment – as it is with other Top 14 clubs – but the club reportedly wanted their players to remain near the club as they fear that travel restrictions will make it difficult to bring them back once the season resumes.

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However, Etzebeth did manage to get permission to come back to SA just before the country underwent the 21-day lockdown. He told Sunday newspaper Rapport that he was grateful to be granted the opportunity to spend time with his family.

‘It’s important for me to be with family. I look after my family … my dad’s health is also not the best – he was diagnosed with cancer about three years ago and survived, but with the world going mad with a disease like this, you never know what’s going to happen,’ Etzebeth said.

‘I can only be grateful to Toulon for allowing me to come home. Hopefully, when I get back, I can repay them with my performances on the field.’

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