Pieter Geldenhuys

Offsides Pieter Geldenhuys

When tragedy strikes, injured young rugby star Jimmy swaps cosmopolitan Cape Town for small-town life. Starting over can be tough, and the locals are notoriously reticent to accept outsiders. And then he meets Lauren. Strong-willed and independent, she knows what she wants from life - and it doesn't include a handsome newcomer.

From the dusty streets of Oudshoorn to the exotic beaches of Thailand, the privileged stomping grounds of the Stellenbosch elite to the hallowed halls of Oxford University, and the sun-kissed hedonism of The French Riviera to the heady snow-covered slopes of Austria, Lauren and Jimmy's lives are destined to be inexorably thrown apart and then tauntingly reconnected.

Their romance is fraught with betrayal, and the choices they make will test their relationship to the limit. Separated by both circumstance and opportunity, they must make the unenviable choice between striving for professional and financial success or following their heart.

This intriguing and delicious story full of family drama, glamorous locations and highly relatable characters touches to the heart of what it is to be a native of the country at the southernmost tip of Africa - and embraces the game that is at the core of South African DNA - rugby!