Unlocked (October 2025, Paperback, 256 pg) Eben Etzebeth

Eben Etzebeth is the most-capped player in South African rugby history. A towering lock, his intelligence, energy and aggression on the pitch is feared, respected, often imitated but never matched.

He is the heart and soul of a historically successful Springbok team and a key part of their astonishingly successful run that encompasses two consecutive World Cups and a current two-year-stint at the top of the world rankings. In this frank and disarming account, Eben uncovers the key factors in his extraordinary success, and how he keeps focussed, both on and off the pitch. From his humble beginnings in Goodwood, a Cape Town suburb where nothing came easy, through his early club career and on to his hard-won place within the South African squad, UNLOCKED reveals the personal side of an astonishing professional career.

This is an inspiring story of a man who has led from the front, and played against the best in the world.

Read more below.

Eben Etzebeth

R380.00

Available on back-order

Description

Eben Etzebeth is known as one of the hard men of rugby. With more Springbok Test caps  than any other player, he’s given and received his fair share of bruises. But he has also fought his way into the hearts of South Africans with his never-say-die attitude.

In Unlocked, Etzebeth will further delight – and even surprise – his legion of fans. It’s a frank  and disarming account from his earliest days, when he first couldn’t even make the A team in high school, through his 13 years and 131 caps as lock wearing the green & gold jersey.

Unlocked is much more than the sum of all the matches. Etzebeth reveals his strong interest  in strategy and coaching, the quota system and leadership, and the role that the Springboks  play in uniting South Africa. He also provides wonderful insight into many of his teammates,  in particular his close bond with Siya Kolisi, as well as some of his opponents.

Etzebeth doesn’t shy away from controversy, and he gives his side of the story on the  ‘Langebaan incident’ which almost derailed his team selection in 2019.

This is an inspiring story of a man who has led from the front, and played against the best in  the world.

Ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar – Ten Slotte.