The World Cup-winning Springboks on Thursday began a four-day homecoming tour in Pretoria, with President Cyril Ramaphosa hailing the team for uniting a country with a divisive past.
South Africa edged greatest rivals New Zealand 12-11 to achieve a record fourth title in a gripping final last Saturday in Paris. With gold medals hanging from their necks, the players arrived at the Union Buildings, the seat of the government, on a yellow open-top bus and shook hands with Ramaphosa.
“Saturday night, you strode off the pitch of victory and passed into legend,” said Ramaphosa, who this week declared a public holiday on December 15 to celebrate the win.
“In doing so you have lifted the spirits of an entire nation and filled us with pride. You have united the South African people. Thousands of people lined the streets to greet a team that has captured the hearts of a nation but was once reviled as a symbol of apartheid.
“We are very diverse, just like you are outside there and we just wanted to show that diversity is our strength,” said Siya Kolisi, the Springboks’ first black Test captain, dedicating the trophy to “the people of South Africa
[ON AIR] President Cyril Ramaphosa receives the #Springboks at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The four-time rugby champions will visit major centres to show off the Webb Ellis Cup. #DStv403 #eNCA pic.twitter.com/Q7IZMu4Ays
— eNCA (@eNCA) November 2, 2023
Source: eNCA
In other news – Here’s how much the Springboks players earn outside of the national team
The Springboks are fresh off their well-earned Rugby World Cup win and are richer for it, in more ways than one.
But, how much do the esteemed players make? Read more
