Bulls loose forward Hanro Liebenberg has revealed the deeply distressing family emergency he was dealing with while playing against the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld.
The Bulls suffered a heavy 50-19 defeat to New Zealand, but the result was far from the biggest concern for Liebenberg that day.
The loose forward was withdrawn after around 30 minutes, with few outside the team aware of the devastating news unfolding in his personal life.
Liebenberg’s daughter suffered cardiac arrest
Speaking to Rapport, Liebenberg revealed that his newborn daughter, Liviah, had suffered a cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment for a rare heart defect.
Liviah was just two weeks old at the time.
She had been born on 3 August and underwent open-heart surgery during the week leading up to the match against New Zealand.
Liebenberg explained that his daughter’s condition had fluctuated throughout the week following the operation, putting enormous emotional strain on the family.
Her heart eventually stopped completely, requiring doctors to revive her and place her on life support.
For Liebenberg and his wife, the situation became a nightmare.
The couple feared they could lose their daughter and prepared themselves for the possibility of having to say goodbye.
A family’s frightening wait
The Bulls forward described the period as one of the most difficult experiences his family had ever faced.
While he was preparing to play against one of the world’s leading rugby teams, his thoughts were understandably focused on his daughter and her fight for survival.
The family’s circumstances remained largely private while Liebenberg continued with his professional commitments.
Thankfully, Liviah’s condition eventually improved.
According to Liebenberg, his daughter gradually became stronger and healthier, providing the family with the news they had desperately been hoping for.
She has since been able to return home.
Liebenberg expressed his gratitude for her recovery and the support his family received during the ordeal.
Liebenberg returns to Bulls duty
After an emotionally difficult period, Liebenberg has been included in the Bulls squad for the new United Rugby Championship campaign.
The Pretoria side finished as URC runners-up last season and will begin their new campaign away against Zebre Parma.
Bulls begin URC campaign against Zebre
Saturday, 26 September 2026
Zebre Parma v Bulls
18:30 SAST
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
The Bulls squad includes a number of experienced Springboks and URC regulars, with Liebenberg among the forwards selected for the campaign.
For the Bulls loose forward, however, the return to rugby comes with a much bigger perspective after what his family has experienced.
The 50-19 defeat to the All Blacks will eventually become another result in the history books.
What happened to his daughter during that same period is a far more personal story — one that Liebenberg and his family will not easily forget.
And after fearing the worst, the news that Liviah is now home represents the outcome they had been praying for.
