Cape Town - Gloucester flank Ruan Ackermann has opened up on being robbed at gunpoint while on holiday in South Africa in January.
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Ackermann, his brother Tiaan and a friend were in their car outside a hotel in Pretoria when the robbery occurred.
"I felt someone with a gun coming into the car, pointing the gun against my head and telling me to turn off the car," Ackermann told the UK-based, The Telegraph.
"I turned to my left and my brother had a gun against his head, too; they were demanding some stuff from him. And then my friend behind me, I can't remember what he was saying, everything sounded like mumbling at the time. He also had a gun against his head. They had three guys and a getaway driver.
"All that went through my head was: take everything, whatever you want, just do not hurt my friend, do not shoot my brother, do not shoot us. If you want my car, take it. Just don't take our lives."
Shortly after the incident, Ackermann took to Instagram to share the news, writing at the time: "Hello Everyone. Had a bad experience yesterday! Got hijacked and gun pointed. Everything stolen. Grateful for the blessing of God that kept us safe. If anyone needs me just DM me."
The robbers didn't steal the car, but took several items, including phones, watches and iPads.
Ackermann is the son of Johan Ackermann, the current Gloucester coach and former mentor of the Lions where Ackermann junior started his professional career.
The father-son duo joined Gloucester from the Lions in 2017.
- Compiled by Herman Mostert