Damian Willemse’s tattoo has got rugby fans talking – mainly because nobody can decide whether it’s brilliant or terrible.
The Springboks star has two very basic stick figures tattooed on his arm alongside the words: “DON’T WORRY, I GOT YOUR BACK.”
That’s it. No fancy artwork. No complicated design.
And fans absolutely love it.
A close-up of the tattoo has been shared around social media, with one rugby account calling it a “strong contender for best tattoo in world rugby.”
One fan simply replied: “Winner.”
Another joked: “Did he draw that himself?”
Someone else compared the artwork to “Leonardo da Vinci type brilliance.”
Malcolm Marx gets dragged into it
Of course, Springboks fans had other ideas.
Malcolm Marx was quickly thrown into the conversation, with several supporters suggesting his tattoos take some beating.
“You need to see Malcolm Marx’s tattoo,” wrote one fan.
Another added: “Few people can beat Malcolm Marx.”
Willemse has been part of the Springboks set-up since making his Test debut in 2018. His ability to play across the backline has made him a regular option for South Africa, with his official SA Rugby profile listing him as a utility back.
He also has two World Cup winners’ medals.
Willemse was part of the squad in Japan in 2019 before playing a much bigger role four years later. He started at full-back when South Africa edged New Zealand 12-11 in the 2023 final, with World Rugby's match report documenting the Springboks' record fourth title.
RUCK has been covering plenty around the Springboks recently, including Eben Etzebeth’s latest milestone and the latest news surrounding Rassie Erasmus’ squad.
But forget the medals for a minute.
We need an answer to the important question.
