Page 13 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 10_2023

Sports Matters
Initiative

117 years of t
117 years of the Springbokkie
e
he Spri
ngbokki

Some interesting
Some i nt erest i ng

h
Facts about South
Fact
s about
Sout
African Rugby:
A
can Rugby:
fri
• The Springboks have a storied history
dating back to 1891, boasting over
1,000 test matches and an impressive
70%-win rate.
• They have claimed the Rugby
Championship (formerly the Tri-
Nations) title a remarkable 12 times,
showcasing their consistency and
excellence.
• The Springbok emblem, featuring a
leaping springbok, was designed by
John Smit lifts the Webb Ellis Cup with Thabo Mbeki in Paris, 2007... artist William Webb in 1908 and has
become one of the most recognisable
symbols in rugby, instilling pride in
the hearts of South African rugby
fans.
• The traditional green and gold jerseys,
first worn in 1895, symbolise the
natural beauty and mineral wealth of
South Africa, representing not just a
team but an entire nation.
• The Springboks' first overseas game
was in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1906,
marking the start of their period of
unrivalled dominance in international
rugby.
• In a remarkable turn of history,
a cease-fire was declared during
the Second Boer War in 1902 so
that British and Boer forces could
play a rugby match. The British
...and Siya Kolisi lifts the same trophy 12 years later at the 2019 RWC in Japan won 11-9 in Krugersdorp, South
Africa, in a moment that showed
who faced adversity head-on, and who country's history. Rugby has been a the extraordinary power of sport in
continue to dream of a better SA. beacon of hope, a symbol of unity, uniting even adversaries.
and a reminder that even in the face • Due to anti-apartheid sporting
A LEGACY OF UNITY of challenges, the Rainbow Nation can boycotts, the Springboks were
Reflecting on this incredible journey, I stand together as one. It's a legacy that excluded from the first two Rugby
feel deeply honoured to have grown continues to inspire us, reminding us that World Cups in 1987 and 1991.
up in such a remarkable time in my together, we can overcome anything.

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