If you, like me, weren’t able to get to a television for whatever reason this weekend, you may have tuned in and listened to the blokes on the couch on 2oceansvibe Radio and their alternative commentary. You may also have heard them speaking in awe about the cult-like properties of the “Bearded One”. Here is his story.

Joshua Strauss is a loose forward who plays for the Lions franchise, and has been somewhat of a hit this season already, not just because of his amazing beard, but because of his rugby skills too.

When the 24 year-old signed with the Lions in August last year, it meant he had to relocate from Bellville in the Cape to Jozi in order to fulfil his new contract. It also meant leaving his lovely girlfriend Tami-Lee Otto behind.

The pair met after a friend of Strauss’s suggested he have his hair cut at a salon owned by Otto in Stellenbosch. One thing lead to another and a romance was born.

The Bearded One speaks:

When I left home, we agreed I would let the beard grow until she’s able to join me here in Johannesburg. It has been trimmed a couple of times, but this look has really grown on me, even though I’m often teased about it and told that I look like a bum.

It was decided by Tami-Lee that the Bearded One should look as ugly as possible for the Johannesburg girls, thereby ensuring they do not find him attractive and his eye isn’t lured off course in any way.

“No, I don’t want to shave it off at half time”

Beards are not really the order of the day in Jozi-land, but at least the Bearded One had the courage to break the mould and take a piece of the holiday with him.

The pair hopes to be reunited just as soon as Tami-Lee is able to sell her hair salon. We do also hope that Tami-Lee reconsiders making big Josh cut that guy.

[Source: TimesLive]