Grobbelaar to be honoured on Saturday
Veteran flanker Cobus Grobbelaar is set to be honoured when he takes to the field for the MTN Golden Lions' Absa Currie Cup semifinal clash with DHL Western Province in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The fixture will serve as a benefit match for the stalwart, who has played only for the Lions since his debut for the under-21s in 2002.
Grobbelaar will receive a percentage of the total gate takings from the match at the Coca-Cola Stadium, as a token of the Lions' appreciation for ten seasons of loyalty to the franchise.
He made his senior debut for the Johannesburg side in 2003 and has played 112 matches for them, as well as 70 Super Rugby matches for the Lions and 24 for the Cats.
"I'm very excited. I think to have stayed at one union your entire career doesn't happen often," said Grobbelaar at the Lions' semifinal team announcement on Tuesday, where he was handed a starting berth by coach Johan Ackermann.
"It just shows you that there are great things happening at this union and I'm really looking forward to it.
"I made this decision in February (this year). It was my wife and my little secret, that there may be a possibility to hang up the boots at the end of the year."
A serious injury setback in 2010 forced Grobbelaar out of rugby for more than eight months.
He was part of the resurgence of the Golden Lions when they won the Currie Cup last year, being on the field as a replacement when the final hooter went in the 42-16 thrashing of the Sharks.
"It is special to win the Currie Cup," Grobbelaar explained.
"My debut still stands out but to lift that cup was an awesome feeling." The 31-year-old added that he was looking at the possibility of remaining involved with the Lions once he had retired, but said he also had other interests that he would be exploring.
"I thought maybe it would be my passion that dies and that will be a clear indication that I should stop playing, but it wasn't the case," he said.
"I would definitely consider helping and the way I want to move into next year, will also be into a sport environment.
"It was always about the passion and the love. It was never about the fame or reading your name in newspapers.
"It was always about the game and that will still be a big part of my life for the next five years."
