Eight years on from moving to Ireland and Richardt Strauss only sees himself returning to South Africa on a temporary basis. The hooker joined Leinster in 2009. He went on to win his first Ireland cap in 2012 and then become an Irish citizen three years later.
Speaking Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh for The Times Ireland this week, Strauss explained that he will return home to see family and friends. However, if he starts a family, it will most likely be here in Ireland that they settle.
The reason: he feels safer here than in his native country.
I look at the headlines from South African papers and websites every week, and speak to people back there. It’s hard not to look and see and worry.
My family have been lucky, there’s been cars stolen and broken into, but no violent crimes. I laugh at people who moan about things here in Ireland, what are you complaining about?
The 31-year-old is not the only South African to feel this way. Strauss says that Ulster's Ruan Pienaar, who will leave the province this summer, and Edinburgh prop William Nel feel the same.
I spoke to Ruan [Pienaar] and he’s convinced he’ll stay in Ireland sometime after he’s done. Willem Nel says he’ll stay in Scotland. If they get the option they’ll stay, they’ll feel safer and their kids can play around in the streets and walk to school.
