The wedding bells are closely ringing for the World Cup-winning Springbok Manie Libbok and his fiancé Verna-Lee Aries.
The soon-to-be Mrs Libbok seems excited to be spending her happily ever after with the man of her dreams. She recently took to Instagram to share snippets of herself along with close family and friends as they gathered for her bridal shower ahead of the big day.
The pictures show Verna returning to her hometown of George, where the celebrations were held at the Meade Café.
In the caption she wrote: “Blessed.”
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The two have known one another since their high school days when both attended Outeniqua, a rugby-loving school in George.
In a prior interview with the lifestyle show, The Insider, Verna highlighted that she was already a pupil at the school when Manie was enrolled in grade 11.
She described him as being a quiet and reserved person and said that it was not until after they matriculated that their relationship as girlfriend and boyfriend started.
“We have a lot in common and sport is the biggest thing. I did athletics, he also did athletics in school. I also played netball and did a bit of dancing,” explained Verna.
“We are both very calm, we don’t like being around too many people, and I feel like that is also something we have in common,” she added.
Since then, Verna, who is now an educator has been by his side through all the highs and lows as he ventured into the professional game including the days he became a Springbok, won his very first Rugby World Cup and was named South Africa’s sportsman of the year at this year’s SA Sports Awards.
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Despite showing calmness in some of his most nail-biting games, it was perhaps in July of 2023 that Manie made the most courageous move of his life, by going down on one knee to propose to his high school sweetheart – and of course, her answer was yes.
The two have been together for eight years, with eternity to come.
Also see: Manie Libbok honoured to be recognised among the ‘greats’
