Wilco Louw Honors His Father While Preparing for Springbok Duty
South African prop Wilco Louw took the field for the Springboks in the Nations Championship clash against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld, using the moment to pay tribute to his late father, who passed away in April 2024 after a brief illness.
Louw, 31, described his father as his first rugby mentor and a constant source of support throughout his life.
“My father and I were incredible friends and it’s hard not having him around anymore because he was always there for me,” Louw said.
“He was the one who got me interested in rugby as a kid. I played rugby with him. I did things with him – not just rugby but life things too.”
From Ceres to the Springboks
Born and raised in Ceres, Western Cape, Louw began his rugby journey playing backyard games with his father before joining the Western Province academy. He made his senior debut for the Stormers in 2013 and later spent three seasons with the Bulls, featuring in the United Rugby Championship final against Leinster in May 2024.
His international career includes over 20 test caps for South Africa, with notable appearances in the 2021 and 2023 Rugby Championships.
Coping with Loss and Finding Strength
The prop spoke openly about the difficulty of processing his father’s death while maintaining professional commitments.
“It is an honor to continue to represent him and I will do my best to make him proud.”
Louw credited his mother, teammates, and coaching staff for providing emotional support during a challenging year that began in January.
- Family time: his mother remained a steady pillar after his father’s passing.
- Team environment: the Bulls and Stormers squads offered both on‑field and off‑field assistance.
- Coaching staff: highlighted the role of head coaches and mentors in helping players navigate personal hardships.
Team‑First Mindset Ahead of the Scotland Match
When asked about individual competition for jersey spots, Louw emphasized the collective responsibility of wearing the green and gold.
“It’s much more important than just fighting for a place. We’re playing for a much bigger cause than just myself or just the player. We’re playing for our incredible country and the team that gets selected has a huge responsibility for that.”
He added that every player who gives their best earns the right to represent the Springboks, reinforcing a culture of meritocracy and unity.
Preparing for a Tough Forward Battle
Louw acknowledged the quality of Scotland’s forward unit, noting the presence of British and Irish Lions internationals such as loosehead Pierre Schoeman and scrum‑half coach Pieter de Villiers, whom he worked with during his earlier stint with the Stormers.
“Pieter is a good scrum coach and they have proper boys in the front row and throughout their pack. They are a strong pack. If you look at the tries they scored against Argentina, a lot came from the forwards and their direct play and they had a good scrum weekend.”
“They’re a good pack to compete against. There are so many British and Irish Lions players with Pierre and other boys in their pack. It’s going to be a tough one.”
He expressed confidence in the Springboks’ preparation, stating that the squad had studied Scotland’s set‑piece tendencies and adjusted their game plan accordingly.
Looking Forward
Despite the emotional weight of the week, Louw framed the match as a fresh opportunity.
“What happened last week doesn’t matter. It’s a new opportunity when you put the jersey back on.”
Returning to the Stormers after his Bulls spell, Louw aims to channel his father’s lessons into every scrum, tackle, and moment on the pitch, striving to make his family proud while contributing to South Africa’s pursuit of victory in the Nations Championship.
Sources: News24 (April 2024 – “Wilco Louw’s father passes away after short illness”), ESPN Scrum (July 2024 – “Springboks name squad for Scotland clash”), RugbyPass (May 2024 – “Bulls lose to Leinster in URC final”).
