From front row to finish line: Former Springbok props embrace Two Oceans test
Road Running
Springbok World Cup winner Marius Hurter will run alongside his 20-year-old daughter Annalien in her first ultra marathon.
Image: Action Photo
Two former Springbok tighthead props will swap the physicality of the scrum for the endurance of the open road when they line up at the 2026 Two Oceans Marathon next month.
Marius Hurter, part of South Africa’s triumphant squad at the 1995 Rugby World Cup on home soil, is set to take on the gruelling 56km ultra-marathon on April 11. A day later, former Bok prop Eddie Andrews will return for his sixth half-marathon.
Once tipping the scales at over 130kg during his playing days, Hurter has undergone a remarkable transformation, slimming down to around 103kg and embracing endurance sport with the same intensity he once brought to the front row.
“My rugby career finished in 2006, but being a prop, I like a bit of suffering,” Hurter joked. “This is hard on the body, but a lot of it comes down to mental toughness. Your physique is one thing, but it’s this little thing between your ears that runs the whole operation.”
Eddie Andrews, former Bok prop and current deputy mayor of the City of Cape Town, will take part in his sixth Totalsports Two Ocean Half Marathon, as he chases the coveted Blue Number status.
Image: Adnaan Mohamed
Hurter’s endurance résumé is as imposing as his former scrummaging presence. He has completed nine editions of the Cape Epic, multiple Ironman triathlons, the Two Oceans, Comrades Marathon and last year’s Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100-miler.
This year’s race carries extra meaning, however, as he will run alongside his 20-year-old daughter, Annalien, in her first ultra-marathon. “We committed to doing it together,” he said. “It makes it special.”
For Andrews, the journey into running began more modestly in 2016 with local parkruns, but has steadily evolved into a serious pursuit. The former Springbok, who earned 23 Test caps between 2004 and 2007, is now closing in on the race’s coveted Blue Number status, awarded after 10 finishes.
“This will be my sixth Two Oceans Half, so I’m getting closer,” Andrews said. “I’m going for it.”
The current deputy mayor of Cape Town has also called on former teammates to follow suit. “This is a challenge to ex-Springboks – get involved, be part of the running community and start new conversations,” he said.
Race organisers have welcomed the duo’s participation, noting that their presence highlights both the diversity and enduring appeal of one of South Africa’s most iconic road races.