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Thaakir Abrahams aiming for winning return to his 'second home' as Munster head to Durban
Thaakir Abrahams' return to Durban with Munster this week has turned into a joyous family reunion for the South African full-back, in stark contrast to his first arrival as a homesick teenager.
On Saturday, the 26-year-old, who joined last summer from Lyon, bids to extend his debut season in red at least an extra week by getting one over his former club the Sharks at Kings Park.
He spent six years with the club, met his wife Tasneem in the city and now calls it his second home but it is a much happier Abrahams who arrived in Durban with the Munster squad on Tuesday afternoon than the 19-year-old who first pitched up in the Sharks academy, 1500 kilometres from his family in Paarl, near Cape Town.
'I was straight out of school, Paarl Boys High, 19 years old,' Abrahams told the Irish Examiner this week.
'It was my first time moving away from home and it was a hard decision for me and also for the family. Everything had been around me and I had to move outside of that bubble and actually grow. It was excellent for me.
'It was harder for my mum to be totally honest! It was her little boy growing up and moving away, it was tough and I remember I wanted to go home every month because I got a bit homesick.
'But then you get to know the place and you get along with the people and build your own community, I guess. You get used to it and now I call it my second home, because my wife is from here.'
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Abrahams has only good things to say about the Sharks and credits the franchise for giving an ideal platform to launch his professional career, not least joining a successful Under-19 side that also featured current Sharks back-rower Phepsi Buthelezi and hooker Fez Mbatha, both of whom will start Saturday's quarter-final from the bench at Kings Park.
'It was a good group to come into and the start of my career. I played in the 2018 Under-19 Currie Cup tournament and the Sharks won that year, which I think was the first time since 2008.
'I grew so much at the Sharks so it was a good start for me. And it's good to be back here, familiar places, familiar faces.
"I met my wife here in Durban so she's here as well, with the little one (baby daughter Diyaana) and we're meeting up with the family here, which is always good.
'I hadn't seen them for two years so it's great seeing them. It's good to be back here again, and with the sun as well.'
Munster will also benefit from the mass exodus of the extended Abrahams family from the Western Cape this weekend, as he explained.
'Oh man, we've quite a big family and quite a tight family. When I come over for holidays I have to try and see everyone, my mum is one of eight children, so lots of aunts, cousins and oh man, it just goes on and on.
'I have two older sisters and a younger brother, he's 10 years younger than me, we call him 'laat lammetjie', that's what we say in South Africa. It basically means he's a late lamb, because of the age difference. I don't know what the English term for that is, I'm Afrikaans, I barely speak English!
'But they'll all be there on Saturday and my eldest sister has two daughters, and the other one has one daughter so my nieces will all be in their Munster kit. I haven't seen them in a while so it will be great seeing them and in the stands as well. Looking forward to it.'
After back-to-back victories to round out the regular season of the URC campaign, Abrahams can look forward to a positive on-pitch performance as Munster bid to repeat their run to the title of two seasons ago.
'The confidence is high. We know they will be physical and we'll bring that part as well but also their kicking game, the aerial battle will be vital for us. Those are things they bring to the table so we'll have to counter that and I think we'll be ready for that.'
