Latest news with #WilliamWebbEllis
eNCA
15 hours ago
- Sport
- eNCA
Boks 30 years after Ellis Park: A Webb of gilded silver
JOHANNESBURG - The 24th of June marks 30 years since South Africa's monumental Rugby World Cup win in 1995. On that chilly day, the Springboks beat the mighty All Blacks 15-12 at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg. It was South Africa's first time playing in a Rugby World Cup final, and they won it on home soil. The moment became even more special when President Nelson Mandela handed the trophy to Springbok captain Francois Pienaar, wearing a Bok jersey with his jersey number 6. This victory was felt beyond the field; it resonated across the country as a symbol of unity for a nation in the infancy of healing from its apartheid past. Since then, the Boks have gone on to win the World Cup three times, in 2007 under John Smit, and in 2019 and 2023 under captain Siya Kolisi. But what makes this golden trophy so important? The Webb Ellis Cup is named after William Webb Ellis, an Englishman credited as the inventor of rugby. Legend has it that, during a school football match in 1823, Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it. A century and half later, John Kendall-Carpenter, a leading figure in the Rugby Football Union (RFU), pushed for the International Rugby Board to organise the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. Kendall-Carpenter, alongside RFU secretary Bob Weighill, set out to find a right trophy that would mark the achievements of the game. Their quest led them to a jeweller in London, who presented them with a trophy created by Carrington & Co in 1906. That trophy was based on a 1740 design by world-famous silversmith, Paul de Lamerie. Kendall-Carpenter and Weighill then built a replica, which was approved in 1987 and named after William Webb Ellis.
The South African
a day ago
- Sport
- The South African
Nelson Mandela, Springbok fan and DRIP king
Nelson Mandela will forever be synonymous with the moment Francois Pienaar's Springboks lifted the 1995 Rugby World Cup. That jersey was iconic in its own right, but it's not the only amazing South African sports merch that Madiba wore with effortless style. Springboks points machine: Where is Percy Montgomery now? We will never forget the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Joel Stransky's drop-kick settled the contest in extra time, producing a 15-12 scoreline to be forever etched in the hearts and minds of fanatical Bok supporters. As skipper Francois Pienaar said while clutching the William Webb Ellis trophy, 'We didn't have 60,000 South Africans, we had 43 million South Africans.' Images of Pienaar alongside then-president Nelson Mandela still adorn walls across the land. This 1995 Bok kit was iconic, made to look even better by Madiba with the classic cricket-style cap. Undefeated. RETSHEGOFADITSWE OX NCHE: Already a Springboks cult hero One of the most iconic moments in sporting history. Image: The Times At the start of his career, Percy Montgomery was known for his flashy, flamboyant skills. However, as he matured and settled into his roles for the Springboks, Sharks, Stormers and clubs abroad, Monty became one of the most dependable players in the world. He was often the first name on the team sheet. A career tally of 102 caps and 893 points for South Africa bears testament. Also, meet the four RWC winners born in the 80s Bok icon Percy Montgomery. Image: AFP Which of Madiba's iconic sports outfits was the best? Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Rugby World Cup: Every winner since 1987
The William Webb Ellis trophy isn't for everyone. Here's the honours roll of all champions, including the back-to-back Springboks, and the team they vanquished. 1987: New Zealand beat France beat France 1991: Australia beat England beat England 1995: South Africa beat New Zealand beat New Zealand 1999: Australia beat France beat France 2003: England beat Australia beat Australia 2007: South Africa beat England beat England 2011: New Zealand beat France beat France 2015: New Zealand beat Australia beat Australia 2019: South Africa beat England beat England 2023: South Africa beat New Zealand The Springboks' nail-biting 16-15 win in the 2023 semi-final against England was the sixth Rugby World Cup meeting between the sides. South Africa won the 1999 quarter-final (44-21) in Paris; the pool game (36-0) and final (15-6) in 2007, also both in Paris; and the final (32-12) in Yokohama in 2019. England won the pool game in Perth in 2003 (25-6). The Springboks now boast an 83.33% win rate against their old foes at the world's biggest tournament, and two of those four wins have come in the match that matters most of all. Click for the story The Storied Springboks vs All Blacks rivalry The Springboks have an absolute scrummaging maestro in the shape of Retshegofaditswe Ox Nche. Can you spell and pronounce his name, though? It's only fair that all South Africans know how to spell Retshegofaditswe and how to pronounce it. Here's the man himself to lend a hand. It's not rocket science either, so there's no excuse, seeing as though there are only 16 letters in the name. Meanwhile, Woolworths came to the party and offered the big man a year's supply of cake. Well deserved. As Ox said, salads don't win scrums. Who will win the 2027 Rugby World Cup? Crazy that it's only two years away! Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Who are the biggest Rugby World Cup chokers?
The Rugby World Cup has witnessed blood, sweat and tears. The Springboks have wept from joy on four occasions, but two other sides have been on the losing side thrice. Who are the biggest World Cup chokers? Spoiler alert, it's not the Springboks! The William Webb Ellis trophy isn't for everyone. South Africa has four titles, the most of any nation. France and England share the dubious honour of having lost the most finals, three apiece. Is England the biggest choker in history? The Springboks got the better of them in 2023's verve-jangling semi-final after eventually defeating France 29-28 in what will go down as one of rugby's greatest-ever matches. For what it's worth, the Springboks have never lost a final. As former Springbok wing Ashwin Willemse told Sky Sports some years ago, growing up in South Africa with rugby as your sport of choice brought hopes of playing against one team: The All Blacks. 'We grow up in a nation where there's one game that we all hoped to one day play, and that's a Test match against the All Blacks,' Willemse said. 'I think this game captures the essence of sport: mutual respect, understanding, sportsmanship and gratitude. It's all those amazing virtues that have been captured through a big rugby rivalry. 'It represents a lifetime of dreams, hopes, and beliefs. It all culminates in that moment; that is what it has meant to me to play against the All Blacks. 'Arguably the greatest derby in world rugby. There is a lifelong tradition between the two teams, and there is a tremendous amount of respect.' Who are the biggest chokers, in your eyes? Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
THROWBACK: Nelson Mandela and his retro Olympics drip
The Springboks have had many influential Rugby World Cup fans down the years, but Nelson Mandela was certainly the greatest, and arguably the most stylish. The 1995 final will never be forgotten. Joel Stransky's drop-kick settled the contest in extra time, producing a 15-12 scoreline to be forever etched in the hearts and minds of fanatical Bok supporters. As skipper Francois Pienaar said while clutching the William Webb Ellis trophy: 'We didn't have 60,000 South Africans, we had 43 million South Africans.' Images of Pienaar alongside then-president Nelson Mandela still adorn walls across the land. This 1995 Bok kit was iconic, made to look even better by Madiba with the classic cricket-style cap. Undefeated. Treat yourself to some Madiba magic What do Handrè Pollard and the legendary François Steyn have in common? Well, they've both slotted massive penalties to help their sides to Rugby World Cup knockout wins against England. Frans Steyn did it in the biggest game of all back in 2007 in France when he was just 20 years old, seemingly unperturbed by the unbearable pressure heaped on his shoulders. He converted from 48 metres in the 62nd minute in the final to give the Springboks a 15-6 lead. England never recovered. Pollard said the nerveless penalty in 2023's semi-final was the best strike of his career. Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit completed 28 tackles against the All Blacks in the 2023 final. To put that absurd number into some type of context, the previous record for tackles made by one player in a Rugby World Cup final was 18 by Richie McCaw all the way back in 2011. To eclipse that mark by 10 is a monumental effort. Collectively, the Springboks made 208 tackles in the final, the most ever in a knockout match at the RWC. What's your best Nelson Mandela memory in a sporting context? Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
