Marx and Nathan shake our hearts

Published on 12th September 2025 | Leave a response

Malcolm Marx got to shake the hand of the young South African Kiwi he helped inspire in his recovery from cancer at the Springboks Captain’s Run at the Sky Stadium in Wellington.

Springboks hooker Marx’s handskake to Nathan Jonker was also one that will shake every Bok supporter’s heart because it showcased the power of the Springboks, the inspiration they are and also highlighted the incredible fight, bravery and victory of a young boy who refused to give up when diagnosed with cancer in 2023.

Nathan watched the 2023 World Cup final with his father Benton from his hospital bed and Marx would send Nathan a video encouraging him to keep fighting and telling him that he hoped to meet him in the future because he would recover.

It happened.

Benton (Jonker) had sent Keo & Zels a message and a video of Nathan’s story, which they had featured on their podcast and shared on SA Rugby Magazine’s channels.

Keo had contacted SA Rugby President Mark Alexander, whose immediate response was that something would be arranged, even if he could not commit to any specific detail.

Andy Colquhoun, Head of Communications at SA Rugby, ensured the video was forwarded to the Boks camp, Anne-Lee Murray, the First Lady of Springboks rugby and former Head of the Springboks Public Relations, forwarded the video to Marx and, for good measure, associates of Marx were also sent the video to forward to the two-time World Cup winner.

Keo & Zels Podcast Channel

Alexander on Thursday had flown back to Wellington from Sydney where he had been at Sanzaar meetings and he engaged with the family, gifted the family of four match tickets to Saturday’s ‘sold out’ Castle Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks, and arranged for Nathan and the family to be at the captain’s practice to meet his Bok heroes, specifically Marx, and to finally get that handshake.

We received this lovely message from Benton this morning:

Hi Keo, thank you so so much for all of this. This was such a special day for the lads. Mr. Alexander is such a humble man. We were privileged enough to drive him back to the hotel to catch up with Malcolm after the captains, where Malcolm presented Nathan with his playing kit for the match he played in Auckland. Thanks so much. Boks By 10 all the way.