South Africa Rugby World Cup Tickets

South Africa Rugby World Cup

The South Africa national rugby union team, commonly known as the Springboks is the country's national team governed by the South African Rugby Union. The Springboks play in green and gold jerseys with white shorts, and their emblem is the native antelope springbok. The team has been representing South Africa in the international rugby union since 30 July 1891, when they played their first test match against a British Isles touring team. Although South Africa was instrumental in the creation of the Rugby World Cup competition, the Springboks did not compete in the first two World Cups in 1987 and 1991 because of international anti-apartheid sporting boycotts. The team made its World Cup debut in 1995 when the newly democratic South Africa hosted the tournament. The Springboks defeated the All Blacks 15–12 in the final, which is now remembered as one of the greatest moments in South Africa's sporting history, and a watershed moment in the post-Apartheid nation-building process. South Africa regained the title as champions 12 years later, when they defeated England 15–6 in 2007 final. As a result of the 2007 World Cup tournament the Springboks were promoted to first place in the IRB World Rankings, a position they held until July the following year when New Zealand regained the top spot. They were named the 2008 World Team of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards. South Africa then won a third World Cup title in 2019, defeating England 32–12 in the final. As a result of this, the South African National Rugby Union Team was named the 2020 World Team of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards for a second time. The Springboks also compete in the annual Rugby Championship (formerly the Tri-Nations), along with southern-hemisphere counterparts Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand. They have won this championship on four occasions in twenty-four competitions and are the only team to have won a version of the competition and the Rugby World Cup in the same year.