The former Springbok rugby player Stefan Terblanche, is looking forward to representing South Africa and competing against former All Black captain Richie McCaw in what's touted as the largest expedition adventure event in world.
The former Springbok rugby player Stefan Terblanche, is looking forward to representing South Africa and competing against former All Black captain Richie McCaw in what's touted as the largest expedition adventure event in world.
The 450km multidiscipline race will be held in Fiordland in March and includes mountain biking, kayaking, pack rafting, trekking and a ropes section with teams given ten days to complete the course.
Terblanche, 42, played 37 tests for South Africa from 1998 to 2003 and is looking forward to renewing his rivalry with McCaw.
McCaw competed in the 2016 event and will team up with Rugby Players Association' chief executive Rob Nichol, Wanaka adventure racer Sarah Fairmaid and Wanaka multisporter and kayaker Bob McLachlan for this year's event.
Stefan Terblanche with former Springbok Joel Stransky at the Cape Epic. Photo: Supplied
Terblanche will compete with the highly experienced South African team Merrell Adventure Addicts but concedes he took some convincing.
"I initially said no and thought that would be the end of it but the team captain Graham Bird asked me again and told me I would be fine. So I phoned around to get some info, emailed Richie and got his input, then phoned a good mate who has done many of the toughest endurance races in the world and he said I would be mad not to say yes and so here I am," says Terblanche.
Since retiring from professional rugby, Terblanche has kept in shape completing the Cape Epic cycle tour, Ironman 70.3 and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
He says he is nervous but ready to take on the GODZone challenge despite disliking being cold and wet.
"I have learned in professional sport that one must never be too proud to let your teammates help you; you will be strong and weak at different times during an event or rugby game, and you will need one another to get through it together."
One hundred teams will compete in the event.
Stefan Terblanche playing for South Africa against the All Blacks in 1998. Photo: Supplied
