Libbok was born in Humansdorp. He attended HTS Daniël Pienaar in Uitenhage, and earned his first provincial selection in 2013, representing Eastern Province at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week, scoring tries in matches against the Blue Bulls[3] and the Golden Lions.[4]
Libbok moved to George for 2014, where he attended Hoërskool Outeniqua. He represented the George-based SWD Eagles at the premier South African high schools rugby union tournament, the Under-18 Craven Week, in both 2014 and 2015. In the first match at the 2015 tournament held in Stellenbosch, Libbok scored two tries, four conversions and one penalty for a personal points haul of 21 points in his side's 31–41 defeat to former side Eastern Province.[5] He followed this up with a try and four conversions against the Golden Lions[6] and a third try and two conversions against KwaZulu-Natal in their final match.[7] He scored a total of 43 points in three matches, making him the top scorer at the competition,[8] while his four tries were the joint-second most in the competition, one behind Western Province's Nico Leonard.[9]
At the conclusion of the tournament, Libbok was included in a South Africa Schools team that played in the 2015 Under-18 International Series on home soil against their counterparts from Wales, France and England. He started on the left wing in their 42–11 victory over Wales in their first match,[10] but dropped to the bench for match against France, not getting any game time in their 12–5 victory.[11] He returned to the starting line-up for their final match against England, helping them to a 23–16 victory to finish the series with a 100% record.[12]
2016–2017: Blue Bulls / South Africa Under-20
After high school, Libbok moved to Pretoria to join the Blue Bulls academy. In March 2016, he was included in a South Africa Under-20 training squad,[13] and made the cut to be named in a reduced provisional squad a week later.[14]
Libbok was also named in the Blue Bulls squad for the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series and he made his first class debut on 8 April 2016, starting as a fullback in their 16–30 defeat to Western Province in Round One of the competition.[15] He also started their match against a Free State XV a week later, scoring his first senior points by slotting a penalty in the 15th minute of the match, and scoring his first try in the final ten minutes which proved decisive as the Blue Bulls won the match 20–17.[16] He also started their next match against Gauteng rivals the Golden Lions[17] and played off the bench in their defeat to the Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth.[18]
On 10 May 2016, Libbok was included in the final South Africa Under-20 squad for the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship tournament to be held in Manchester in England.[19] He started their opening match in Pool C of the tournament in the fly-half position, scoring a try as South Africa came from behind to beat Japan 59–19.[20] He switched positions with fullback Curwin Bosch for their second pool match, a 13–19 defeat to Argentina,[21] but reverted to fly-half as South Africa bounced back to secure a 40-31 bonus-point victory over France in their final pool match, with Libbok scoring his second try of the competition just after the hour mark.[22] The result meant South Africa secured a semi-final place as the best runner-up in the competition, and Libbok started their semi-final match as they faced three-time champions England. The hosts proved too strong for South Africa, knocking them out of the competition with a 39–17 victory,[23] and they also lost the third-place play-off match against Argentina, with the South American side beating South Africa for the second time in the tournament, convincingly winning 49–19[24] to condemn South Africa to fourth place in the competition. Libbok scored his third try of the competition in the defeat, to finish the competition with three tries, the joint-most by a South African player with Zain Davids and Edwill van der Merwe.[25]
Libbok debuted for the Stormers in 2021, in Italy facing Benetton in a losing effort after the home side made a second half comeback. He went on to feature prominently for the Cape outfit after impressing coach, John Dobson. The Stormers, only lost 4 games leading into the knockout stages for that season. During a semi-final clash against Irish side, Ulster, where the visitors were leading by 5 points after the hooter already sounded. Libbok made a skip pass assisting Warrick Gelant to score a try leveling the scoreboard. Libbok made the conversion from the touchline sending his team into the finals of the inaugural United Rugby Championship. In the final, he faced his former club the Bulls, and kicked a drop goal to extend a small lead and ultimately clinching the title. He was the leading point scorer, accumulating 171 points. A feat he replicated the following season, scoring 217 points.[citation needed]
On July 22nd, Libbok's signing was officially announced by the Japanese outfit after reports had been making rounds since March. Initial reports hinted at a Sabbatical request, but it turned out to be a long-term endeavor after Libbok announced his departure from the Stormers. He was signed with the Cape outfit until 2027 and according to coach, John Dobson, wanted to honour his contract. Dobson, whom had been very vocal about having both Libbok and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, said that it was impossible for both of them to coexist at the franchise. He also mentioned the latter's request one year prior to only play fly-half and mentioned that he doesn't desire to play from the bench. Therefore, Libbok's offer couldn't have come at a more opportune time. Dobson, declared that Manie leaves with their blessing and an open invitation to return in the future.
Libbok made his first appearance for his new club in a pre-season match playing the first 40 minutes. On December 13th, he made his official Japan Rugby League One debut against the Shuttles Aichi in the second division scoring 4/4 conversions in a 40-14 victory. [33] The following week, Libbok played his first game for his new club at their home Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka against NEC Green Rockets in a 40-10 victory. On January 10th, Libbok made his first start at fullback since his days at the Sharks, with Rintaro Maruyama at pivot against the Hino Red Dolphins. He played at sweeper for 52 minutes and kicked 12 points in a 47-34 victory. On January 17th, he was once again back at fly-half in their away game against Red Hurricanes Osaka, a local derby where they emerged victorious once more winning 40-35.
National team
In October 2022, he was included in the squad for the Springboks' year-end tour.[34] He made his debut for the national team against France on November 12th, receiving 4 minutes from the bench in Marseille. A fixture they lost. The following week he was once again named in the team to face Italy. He replaced Cheslin Kolbe early in the second half due to injury. He kicked 5 successful conversions in a 63-21 victory. He played his third test against England, also from the bench which they also won.
In July 2023, with long time pivot Handré Pollard still injured, Libbok was selected by then coach, Jacques Nienaber, to make his first start for the Springboks against Australia in their opening match for The Rugby Championship at Loftus Versfeld opposing Quade Cooper. The young pivot delivered a masterclass performance marshaling his team to a 43-12 victory. He made his debut against New Zealand from the bench at Mount Smart Stadium where Damian Willemse started at fly-half. A test they lost. Libbok found himself again in the starting team for the final fixture of their campaign against Argentina, where he scored his first try in a close encounter, winning the test, 22-21. He then featured in another test against Los Pumas including Wales, both of which they won. On August 25th, Libbok made his first start against the All Blacks at Twickenham opposing Richie Mo'unga. With heavy criticism in regards to his goalkicking, Libbok kicked 5 successful conversions and showed excellent game management in a then record breaking victory against the men in black, 35-7.
In September of that year, he made his Rugby World Cup debut against Scotland opposing Finn Russell in what was his 10th cap. The inexperienced pivot was inconsistent from the boot only managing to land two penalties but he managed to prevent an otherwise definite try almost scored by winger Darcy Graham after a great cover tackle. And he delivered an outrageous no-look kick pass to Kurt-Lee Arendse who scored the Boks' second and final try of the day. He received the Man of the Match award on his debut in the 18-3 victory. So far undefeated as a starting fly-half for the national team and against marquee fly-halves, Libbok faced veteran pivot and Ireland captain, Johnny Sexton. After landing the opening penalty, Libbok missed a long-range attempt and a conversion for Cheslin Kolbe's try that he assisted with. The Boks went on to lose the match, 13-8, bagging a losing bonus point. He came under immense scrutiny being blamed for the loss singlehandedly. With the return of Handré, Manie was selected on the bench for their final pool game against Tonga where both him and Handré kicked at 100%. In the quarter-final against France, he was back in the starting team. South Africa went on to win the match by a single point. A trend they replicated in both the semi-final against England, which Libbok started in but was unceremoniously substituted early in the first half, as well as in the final against their southern hemisphere counterpart, New Zealand, where Libbok did not feature.
Libbok was re-selected to represent his country for the 2024 test season by coach Rassie Erasmus. He was not included in the first 3 tests of the season. He made his first appearance for the Springboks for the year against Portugal, which they won. However, Libbok once again was rather woeful from the tee missing 3 of his 5 attempts at goal. Coach Erasmus said that he was experiencing a dip. Libbok was however included to tour Australia for the Rugby Championship, featuring from the bench in second test for the final 7 minutes, which they won. He didn't feature in either of the two tests against New Zealand in South Africa. He made his return against Argentina in Santiago del Estero replacing Handré Pollard. Libbok gave his team the lead back with a penalty after they squandered a 17-0 lead. In the final minutes, South Africa was awarded a penalty that would've clinched the game for them, but Libbok sadly sent it wide. South Africa ended up losing the contest 28-29. Once again, he was a man under fire, coach Erasmus said that the loss can't solely be on the shoulders of Libbok and started Libbok in the final match of the competition against Los Pumas at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. The match also turned out to be the decider for the championship. Libbok was acquitted from goalkicking as Jaden Hendrikse, the scrum-half conducted the placekicking. South Africa went into half time leading 27-7. They won the test and the championship. On the End of Year Tour he was once again included by Erasmus. He featured against England, a test they won.
In 2025, he made third season appearance for South Africa. He played from the bench in the opening contest against the Barbarian F.C on June 28th. Although not an official test match, the Springboks showed their intent for the year by winning the contest in an emphatic 52-7 display. Libbok showed a new shortened goalkicking technique going 5/5 at goal. He debuted it for the Stormers in Dublin in January earlier that year, he sadly got injured that evening and thus bok fans only got to witness it against the Barbarians. It was significant for Manie due to the immense critique regarding his placekicking. Erasmus said that he told Manie to try to miss then it'll go over and mentioned that it is the new Rhino ball that helped him sarcasticly. Libbok made his first official appearance for the year in the second test against Italy which the Boks won 45-0.
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