This was a fantastic gesture.
It was all going so well for the Blitzbokke at Rio 2016. The South Africans had shown glimpses of class in their group stage matches and, after disposing of Australia, fancied themselves against Team GB in their last four clash.
They would have to do so without their flyer, and big try threat, Seabelo Senalta. He picked up a wrist injury that ruled him out of the knockout games and was replaced by travelling reserve Francois Hougaard.
The 28-year-old stepped in and did a decent job but was part of a team stunned by a Team GB outfit that eventually finished with a silver medal.
Hougaard and South Africa bounced back by filleting Japan in the bronze medal match. Senatla lined up with his teammates but was not given a bronze medal. Olympic committee rules somewhat harshly exclude players not involved in the squad for medal matches.
As soon as the South Africans returned to the Olympic Village, Hougaard rectified that.
https://twitter.com/Seabelo_Senatla/status/764058635135627265
https://twitter.com/Seabelo_Senatla/status/764059308090810370
Senatla told
The South African: "Hougie wanted to give it to me [but] I was like ‘No, no, you keep it. Your name is on the list."
Hougaard insisted, though, so Senatla now has an Olympic medal to bring home and show his family.
We'll leave it to him to sum up the experience, and gesture.
https://twitter.com/Seabelo_Senatla/status/764060908570021888
Well tweeted.
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