Rassie Erasmus receives award for 'uniting South Africans'

Rassie Erasmus receives award for ‘uniting South Africans’

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus proudly received a Goodwill Award for promoting mutual respect, tolerance, humanity amongst South Africans.

rassie erasmus, fw de klerk goodwill award springboks

Rassie Erasmus has received the FW De Klerk's Goodwill Award. Images via Facebook: FW De Klerk Foundation

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has accepted a Goodwill Award from the FW De Klerk Foundation for helping to “unite South Africans.”

The award comes after the South African national rugby boss – the second highest paid in the world – was snubbed for World Rugby’s Coach of the Year.

RASSIE ERASMUS ACCEPTS GOODWILL AWARD

On Saturday, 1 February, Rassie Erasmus was presented with the FW de Klerk Foundation’s Goodwill Award.

The award was presented at the foundation’s annual conference. This coincided with the 35th anniversary of the late SA president’s speech initiating transformation.

In true Rassie spirit, he accepted the award on behalf of the entire national team.

“We are humbled as a group! Lekka”, he tweeted of his accolade.

According to the foundation, Rassie was named the recipient of the Goodwill Award for his “passion, devotion, and brilliance in leading the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2019 and 2023”.

It added: “His role as coach inspires people from all walks of life, instills pride and promotes nation-building.

rassie erasmus, springboks — Rassie Erasmus receieved an award from the FW de Klerk Foundation. He
Images via X: @rassierugby

“The work of the FW de Klerk Foundation resonates with the non-racial, meritocratic, humble, and patriotic values espoused by Rassie during his tenure as the national coach.

The organisation “promotes and preserves the heritage” of the late leader. This is done “by supporting the causes for which he worked during his presidency.” FW de Klerk died in 2021 following a short cancer battle.

The foundation believed that the Boks boss was the epitome of “working together as a nation, mutual respect, tolerance, humanity, perseverance, teamwork, discipline, leadership and serving the interest of all of our people.”

Laste year, Rassie received an honorary doctorate from the North West University in the discipline of Coaching Science.

‘WE PLAY FOR YOU’

Shortly after the World Rugby annual awards in December, Rassie Erasmus indirectly responded to being snubbed in the Coach of the Year category.

In a voice note posted on X, he urged South Africans to “stay nice and humble, support each other, and help us keep our feet on the ground.”

“We play for you guys and for South Africa. Also, for those abroad who understand and see what we stand for as the Springboks – I appreciate that a lot.

“At the end of the day, it is all just a game that we are all proud of.”