Manie Libbok: The Humansdorp Flyhalf Heading Back to the Sharks

So Manie Libbok is trending in South Africa, and the reason is simple, the Sharks have just confirmed they signed him. The Springbok flyhalf will come back to Durban in July 2027 after his time in Japan, and Sharks fans are very happy while Stormers fans are a bit sore about it. He is also on the Bok bench for Saturday’s Test against Italy, so his name is everywhere this week. Let me break down who he is.

Quick facts

Full name: Immanuel Libbok
Known as: Manie Libbok
Born: 15 July 1997
Hometown: Humansdorp, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Position: Flyhalf, can also play fullback
Current club: Hanazono Kintetsu Liners, Japan
Next club: Sharks, from July 2027
Big honours: Rugby World Cup 2023, United Rugby Championship 2021-22

Street rugby in Humansdorp

Manie was born in Humansdorp, a small town in the Eastern Cape. He has spoken about learning the game on the streets, and about how much his mother and his late grandmother supported him. He went to Graslaagte Primary School and then to HTS Daniël Pienaar in Uitenhage, where he first played provincial rugby for the Eastern Province under-16 side at Grant Khomo Week in 2013. He scored tries against the Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions that week, and people started noticing.

In 2014 he moved to Hoërskool Outeniqua in George. He played Craven Week for the SWD Eagles in 2014 and 2015, and in 2015 he was the top points scorer at the whole tournament with 43 points in three games. That got him into the South Africa Schools team, which finished their series unbeaten. He also won gold in sevens at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games.

Bulls, then Sharks, then Stormers

After school he joined the Blue Bulls academy in Pretoria and made his senior debut in April 2016, starting at fullback. He also played for the South Africa under-20s. Game time at the Bulls was not always easy, so in 2020 he moved to the Sharks. His coach then, Sean Everitt, called him a tricky customer with X-factor. He made his debut against the Lions in Durban in October 2020.

The move that changed everything was to the Stormers in 2021. Under John Dobson he became the main man. In the 2021-22 United Rugby Championship semi-final against Ulster, with the hooter already gone, he threw a skip pass for Warrick Gelant to score and then kicked the conversion from the touchline to win it. In the final against his old club the Bulls he dropped a goal that helped seal the title, and he finished the season as top points scorer with 171 points. He was Stormers Player of the Year in 2022 and the SA Player of the Season in the URC after the next season too.

Springbok story

Manie made his Bok debut against France in Marseille in November 2022. His first start came in July 2023 against Australia at Loftus, and the Boks won 43-12, a really good night for him. At the 2023 World Cup he was Man of the Match on his tournament debut against Scotland, and that no look kick pass to Kurt-Lee Arendse for a try is still all over YouTube. The kicking at goal has been his big criticism, especially after the loss to Ireland, but he still went home a World Cup winner.

Since then Rassie Erasmus has kept picking him. He has won the Rugby Championship in 2024 and 2025 and he started against England in July 2026 when the Boks won 45-21. Analysts say his passing gives the Bok attack an edge, and he has a very good win rate as a starter.

Japan

In July 2025 the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners in Osaka announced they had signed him. Dobson said the Stormers could not keep both him and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu happy at flyhalf, so Manie left with their blessing. In Japan he has done well, he was the top points scorer in Division 2 of Japan Rugby League One in 2025-26 and he holds the record for most points in a single Japanese club game, 37 points.

Off the field

Manie keeps his private life quiet. He has talked about his partner Verna as his pillar of support, someone who helps him protect his peace with all the pressure that comes with playing for the Boks.

Timeline

1997: Born on 15 July in Humansdorp
2013: Plays Grant Khomo Week for Eastern Province
2015: Top scorer at Craven Week, SA Schools, Commonwealth Youth Games sevens gold
2016: Senior debut for the Blue Bulls, plays for SA under-20
2020: Joins the Sharks
2021: Moves to the Stormers
2022: Wins the URC with the Stormers, Springbok debut in November
2023: First Test start, then wins the Rugby World Cup
2025: Signs for Hanazono Kintetsu Liners in Japan
2026: Sharks confirm he will join them from July 2027

Why he is trending right now

On 4 November 2026 the Sharks announced that Libbok has signed a multi year deal and will join them in July 2027, after he finishes his commitments in Japan. He said there is no club he would rather join, and that when he spoke to coach JP Pietersen about his vision he knew something special was being built. Pietersen called him a gamechanger and a player maker.

On top of that he is on the bench for the Springboks against Italy in Turin on Saturday 7 November. So between the transfer news and the Test, Manie Libbok is the rugby name everybody is searching this week. Durban will be waiting for him.