Why Stormers star Seabelo Senatla wants to keep the backflip celebration special

Leighton Koopman|Published 1 minute ago

Seabelo Senatla is not planning to make his spectacular flick-flack try celebration a regular feature, insisting he wants to preserve the special significance of the acrobatic move for the right occasion.

The Stormers wing sent the DHL Stadium crowd into raptures when he scored against the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship (URC) last weekend, as he opened the scoring in the 39-22 victory. It was the Cape side’s first game at home and in their retro ‘Men in Black’ kit that pays tribute to the team of the late 1990s

But while the celebration was a fitting way to mark their first try at home for the season in the new kit, Senatla says supporters should not expect to see it every time he crosses the try-line. The speedster wants to keep the backflip as something reserved for special moments, rather than allowing it to become an expected part of his try-scoring routine.

So, when they face the Scarlets on Saturday afternoon (4pm kick-off) in their second home URC match, supporters should not expect to see him tumble over. Well, maybe if he crosses the whitewash three times. 

“I don’t think I’ll do a backflip again unless it’s a special occasion, maybe if I score a hat-trick or something like that, because I want to keep that moment really sacred,” Senatla said.

“It’s going to lose its significance if I do it all the time. People are going to get used to it, and then the gravitas of the moment is going to dissipate.

“I still want to keep it as special as possible because it was a special moment when I did it against the Sharks. It was our first game back in black, with some of the ‘Men in Black’ from the late 1990s there. So, it was a special occasion. I don’t want to dilute it though by doing the backflip all the time.”

Senatla’s backflip provided one of the afternoon’s most memorable highlights, adding a touch of showmanship to an occasion that celebrated the Stormers’ history while giving their supporters plenty to cheer about in the present.

However, Senatla clearly understands the value of keeping something in reserve. The flick-flack is not simply a routine to be repeated whenever he scores, but a celebration he wants to associate with moments that truly matter to him and the team.

And if a hat-trick comes his way against the Welsh visitors, Stormers supporters might just get another chance to see it.