PrøvGOLD- Free

MEET LITTLE EMILY-ROSE
YOU South Africa|30 January 2025
Widowed rugby legend Errol Tobias has become a dad again at 74 after finding love with Ro-Andria
- COLIN HENDRICKS
MEET LITTLE EMILY-ROSE

PEOPLE often do a double-take when he tells them he's a new dad but he doesn't mind – and at 74 he's more than ready to handle nappy changes and be on daddy duty around the clock.

After all, Errol Tobias is accustomed to taking on challenges – he's been doing it almost his whole life.

In 1981 he made history by becoming the first black Springbok, taking to the field as a centre against Ireland at Newlands at age of 30. Fast-forward several decades and his life continues to evolve and surprise in ways he never imagined.

Just last year, Errol and his 30-year-old partner, Ro-Andria Sylvester, welcomed their first child together.

He admits he was taken aback when he found out Ro-Andria was expecting "because I'm at such an advanced age". Yet he quickly adapted, much like he did on the rugby field.

"I was chosen for the SA team at what's considered an advanced age and I've never indulged in smoking or drinking, which keeps me healthy. If I draw inspiration from the Bible, even Abraham had a child late in life. If this is God's plan, I'm ready to embrace it," he tells YOU.

Errol has four adult children from his marriage to his late wife, Sandra, who passed away after a heart attack in 2020. Still, the art of changing nappies remains a challenge for him.

"Yesterday he dried her and he managed to put the nappy on front to back," Ro-Andria says with a laugh.

"Well, I had to learn everything from scratch. And there's no front or back on a rugby ball," Errol replies.

Errol and Ro-Andria are raising their seven-month-old daughter, Emily-Rose, at their home in Caledon in the Overberg in the Western Cape. Ro-Andria also has an eight-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, who's part of their household.

Errol is a hands-on dad, Ro-Andria says, and is involved in all aspects of childcare.

Denne historien er fra 30 January 2025-utgaven av YOU South Africa.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra 30 January 2025-utgaven av YOU South Africa.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA YOU SOUTH AFRICASe alt
LABOUR OF LOVE
YOU South Africa

LABOUR OF LOVE

Doctors are pushing the limits of science and human biology to save more extremely premature babies\" than ever before. But considering so few survive, are they being put through needless suffering?

time-read
10+ mins  |
13 February 2025
THE BECKS FACTOR
YOU South Africa

THE BECKS FACTOR

From his chiselled six-pack to his perfect pecs, David Beckham sizzles in a steamy new photoshoot

time-read
3 mins  |
13 February 2025
I'VE TAKEN BACK MY LIFE
YOU South Africa

I'VE TAKEN BACK MY LIFE

Cancer patient Ina was told to get her affairs in order but she decided to fight for imported meds and they're making all the difference

time-read
5 mins  |
13 February 2025
WE ARE A RAINBOW NATION'
YOU South Africa

WE ARE A RAINBOW NATION'

His mom despaired when the only primary school to accept him was Afrikaans, a language he doesn't understand. What she hadn't banked on was the kindness of strangers

time-read
5 mins  |
13 February 2025
TRAGEDY IN PARADISE
YOU South Africa

TRAGEDY IN PARADISE

A Durban man and his Welsh fiancée dreamt of starting a life in Vietnam - but they died after drinking tainted alcohol in their villa

time-read
4 mins  |
13 February 2025
IT'S A SLAM DUNK!
YOU South Africa

IT'S A SLAM DUNK!

Madison Keys stormed to victory at the Australian Open - but she had to slay her personal demons to get there

time-read
5 mins  |
13 February 2025
THE NEW TECH TITAN
YOU South Africa

THE NEW TECH TITAN

Chinese maths nerd Liang Wenfeng has given Silicon Valley a major shake-up with the launch of his cut-price AI chatbot DeepSeek

time-read
5 mins  |
13 February 2025
MAKE SQUATS WORK!
YOU South Africa

MAKE SQUATS WORK!

This basic move is a miracle exercise - but only if you do them right

time-read
3 mins  |
13 February 2025
WE'RE GOING TO WIN!
YOU South Africa

WE'RE GOING TO WIN!

Anele Mdoda is over the moon that her movie The Last Ranger has been nominated for an Oscar

time-read
4 mins  |
13 February 2025
MID-AIR HORROR
YOU South Africa

MID-AIR HORROR

A collision between a plane and a helicopter above Washington, DC exacted a heartbreaking toll on life

time-read
4 mins  |
13 February 2025

Vi bruker informasjonskapsler for å tilby og forbedre tjenestene våre. Ved å bruke nettstedet vårt samtykker du til informasjonskapsler. Finn ut mer