While his teammates are off battling Zebre Parma in Italy, Manie Libbok is busy celebrating a different kind of victory—his marriage to his longtime girlfriend, Verna Arries.
The couple exchanged vows in a picturesque ceremony believed to be held in Mossel Bay, close to Verna’s hometown.
As of now, there haven’t been any photos released from the event by the couple or their guests, keeping the details under wraps.
A Long-Awaited Union
After more than a year of being engaged, Manie, who plays flyhalf for the Springboks, and Verna have officially tied the knot.
Their love story began back in high school in George, where they initially met, but it blossomed into romance only in recent years.
Manie, originally from Humansdorp in the Eastern Cape, moved to the coastal town of the Western Cape with his family.
A devoted Stormers fan, Sardieq Slamdien, shared that Manie had opted out of the Stormers’ URC game in Italy to focus on his wedding.
He tweeted, “MANIE LIBBOK is getting hitched today by his teammates in Italy. Hope my boys can give him a wedding gift by beating the tails-up Zebre (who beat Munster last week).”
Secrets and Celebrations
Despite the couple’s best efforts to keep their wedding plans under wraps, hints about the big day surfaced from friends.
One close friend even shared a sneak peek of the likely wedding venue, Seeplaas, nestled in the Garden Route between George and Mossel Bay.
The venue had been “closed to the public for a wedding celebration,” suggesting that the festivities were indeed taking place there.
Other Springboks, including Lukhanyo Am and Grant Williams, also dropped hints on their Instagram Stories about being in town to help celebrate with Manie, adding to the excitement.
From Schoolmates to Soulmates
Reflecting on their journey, Verna Arries shared with Insider SA that she and Manie first crossed paths at Hoërskool Outeniqua in George.
“He was very shy and quiet, and I’m very bubbly,” said Verna, who works as an educator. Manie, on the other hand, recalled, “She caught my eye from the word go. I just wanted to be closer to her.”
Verna noted the unique challenges of dating someone in the public eye: “Being the girlfriend of a Stormers [and Springbok] player is quite normal because I love my normal life.
But obviously, they are in the limelight, so you have to get used to a lot of stuff, especially the media. It can be stressful.”
As they embark on this new chapter together, we can only imagine the joy and challenges that lie ahead for Manie and Verna.
What’s next for this beautiful couple? Only time will tell!
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