Joe van Niekerk and his partner Cato have announced the arrival of baby boy Ragnar Ari in a social media post on Mother's Day.
For many rugby fans, memories of ‘Big Joe’ van Niekerk will revolve around his impressive exploits on the field, with the blonde loose-forward dynamoHowever, after hanging up his boots, he also spent a remarkable few years in the jungles of Costa Rica, where he ran a wellness centre.
“Although the birth didn’t go as intended, we feel immense gratitude for Western medicine to have saved our little boy’s life after 24 hours of intense labour and to have brought him safely to Earth side. “What a journey it has been. Thank you all for your loving messages and thank you Ragnar for being the most extraordinary gift I have ever received.
Van Niekerk has led a fascinating life since retiring from rugby in 2014 after winning the French Top 14 and European Champions Cup with Toulon. Since then, hefrom rugby player to community leader of a healing sanctuary in Costa Rica.
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