South Africa has celebrated the series win, but fans are still trying to work out what prompted Rassie, Siya and the coaching staff to reach for the clippers.
South Africa (21 September 2026) – There’s celebrating after winning a big rugby series, and then there’s shaving your head.
That’s exactly what has left South African rugby fans scratching their heads after Siya Kolisi, Rassie Erasmus and members of the Springboks coaching staff all appeared to embrace a rather dramatic new look following the team’s 3-1 series victory over the All Blacks.
The question on everyone’s mind? What was the bet?
Robbie Gillett summed up the confusion perfectly in a video doing the rounds on social media.
He joked that while everyone knows the Springboks won three of the four Tests, nobody seems to know exactly what prompted the haircut.
And honestly, South African rugby fans are with him.
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Children Gifted Dress-Up Costumes and Their Reaction is Everything!Was there a bet before the series? Was it a punishment after losing the opening Test? Was it something that was agreed behind the scenes?
The mystery has only become more entertaining because it wasn’t just Rassie who went under the clippers. Siya Kolisi was in on it too, along with members of the coaching staff.
One creator from Kick on Rugby, has offered a little more context, suggesting the haircut was linked to a pre-series bet involving the possibility of the Boks losing the series.
But they didn’t. South Africa lost the opening Test in Johannesburg before bouncing back to win the next three and claim the series 3-1.
So technically, the bet doesn’t quite seem to add up, yet the haircuts happened anyway. Which leaves us exactly where we started.
Rassie, Siya…what was the bet?
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