Hair Trends – Blond Fabio

April 20, 2010 No Comments

New Zealand rugby commentator Scotty ‘Sumo’ Stevenson commented recently about the popularity of the ‘Blond Fabio’ look among Souh African rugby players.

He felt that the 80′s style was alive and well in the republic.

Fabio Lanzoni is an Italian model who was big in the 80′s and 90′s.

His list of accolades is long and distinguished

- Cover shots of romance novels and magazines
- Box cover of a video game
- Romance novelist
- TV star
- Women’s clothing designer
- Movie star (kind of – see below)

Among his many enthralling movie cameo’s is this little number from Dude, Where’s My Car?

In search of the South African Fabio

Springbok legend, Percy Montgomery was the most notorious of the South African Fabios but we were in search of the new breed of Fabios who can be seen in the Curie Cup and Super 14 rugby competitions.

The Northern Bulls from the Southern Hemisphere’s Super 14 rugby competition have 3 Fabio candidates
1. Wynand Olivier (centre, 12)
2. Dewald Potgieter (open-side flank, 7)
3. Jacques-Louis Potgieter (reserve half-back, utility)
I went among to their week 9 match against the Chiefs to investigate.

1. Wynand Olivier

Olivier plays at inside centre and sports a lovely blond do.

Fresh from the salon, the Springbok number 12 has a classic 80′s look.

Verdict: Definite Fabio and heir to Percy’s throne

2. Dewald Potgeiter

While the hair is flowing, the roots are not dark. This guy is a natural blond and his look is more natural than manicured.

My assessment is that Dewald Potgieter is more of a ‘surfy’ type than a Fabio.

Fabio implies a degree of poser and the abrasive number 7. just doesn’t have it in him.

This is in part because he plays in the forwards and is a pretty tough player with a fair bit of talent and partly because it is true.

Verdict: Surfie-Boy – No Fabio

3. Jacques-Louis Potgeiter

The other Potgeiter in the Bulls outfit could almost pas as Olivier’s little brother.

He left the Bulls for 2 seasons with the Cheetahs but returned to be re-united with Olivier.

How am I looking?

Nice look son ...

In truth, Potgeiter’s return to the Bulls was probably more about ensuring he was going to get the starting spot that will be vacated by Fourie du Preez. The Springbok scrum-half is leaving after the world cup to take up a contract in Japan.

Verdict: Fabio and Olivier groupie