Bulls star reveals frightening experience while facing All Blacks

During the recently-concluded Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, one of the first matches during the tour saw the All Blacks take on the Bulls at Loftus.

While New Zealand ultimately cruised to a 50-19 victory, very few people knew of the frightening personal experience that saw Bulls loose forward Hanro Liebenberg dramatically pulled from the field after 30 minutes.

In an interview with Rapport. Liebenberg has shared how his two-week-old daughter Liviah – who was born on 3 August with a rare heart defect – had gone into cardiac arrest, leaving him and his family fearing for the worst.

“She went in for open-heart surgery that Monday before the match,” Liebenberg said. “She was up and down health-wise the whole week, because that kind of surgery places enormous stress on a baby.

“Her little heart had stopped completely. They had to revive her and put her on life support. It was harrowing.

“My wife and I were ready to go and say goodbye to our daughter on the Sunday. We told ourselves we needed to make peace with it – that this was not meant for us.”

Poignant turn of events for Bulls star and his family

Despite this frightening set of circumstances, the wonderful news is that Liebenberg’s daughter Liviah was ultimately able to recover and recently returned home.

“By God’s grace, she just grew stronger and stronger. Healthier. We are so grateful for that,” Liebenberg added.

Liebenberg was recently named in the Bulls’ squad for the new URC season, with last season’s runners-up set to face Zebre this weekend.

Bulls URC squad
Thaakir Abrahams, Riyaad Bam, Curwin Bosch, Zak Burger, Nizaam Carr, Marcell Coetzee, Paul de Wet, Jean Erasmus, Demetri Erasmus, Juann Else, Stedman Gans, Luan Giliomee, Jaco Grobbelaar, Johan Grobbelaar, Mpilo Gumede, Cameron Hanekom, JF van Heerden, Stravino Jacobs, Nicolaas Jansen van Rensburg, Keagan Johannes, Cheswill Jooste, Francois Klopper, Hakeem Kunene, Neil le Roux, Willie le Roux, Katlego Letebele, Hanro Liebenberg, Elrigh Louw, Reinhardt Ludwig, Dylan Maart, Mawande Mdanda, Khuta Mchunu, Canan Moodie, Embrose Papier, Sergeal Petersen, Handré Pollard, Jeandré Rudolph, Dylan Smith, Mornay Smith, Sti Sithole, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Heinrich Theron, JJ Theron, Alulutho Tshakweni, Janco Uys, JF van Heerden, Akker van der Merwe, Ruan Vermaak, Harold Vorster, Cobus Wiese, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Devon Williams, Sango Xamlashe, Nama Xaba.

Round 1

Friday 25th September 2026

Benetton v Dragons RFC

20:45 SAST | Stadio Monigo, Treviso

Connacht v Stormers

20:45 SAST | Dexcom Stadium, Galway

Ulster v Edinburgh

20:45 SAST | Affidea Stadium, Belfast

Saturday 26th September 2026

Lions v Leinster

13:30 SAST | 10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Sharks v Ospreys

16:00 SAST | Hollywoodbets Kings Park

Munster v Glasgow Warriors

18:30 SAST | Thomond Park, Limerick

Zebre Parma v Bulls

18:30 SAST | Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma

Scarlets v Cardiff Rugby

20:45 SAST | Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli