South Africa national rugby union team
The South Africa national rugby union team (Afrikaans: [Suid-Afrikaanse nasionale rugbyspan] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)), officially nicknamed the Springboks, represents South Africa in international rugby union. They are South Africa's most successful national sports teams, and are considered the second best rugby union team of all time overall (after New Zealand). They are also currently ranked first on the World Rugby Rankings.
| Nickname(s) | Springboks Bokke Amabhokobhoko Bokmasjien | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Emblem | Springbok | ||
| Union | SA Rugby | ||
| Head coach | Jacques Nienaber | ||
| Captain | Siya Kolisi | ||
| Most caps | Victor Matfield (127) | ||
| Top scorer | Percy Montgomery (893) | ||
| Top try scorer | Bryan Habana (67) | ||
| Home stadium | Various | ||
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| World Rugby ranking | |||
| Current | 1 (as of 16 October 2023) | ||
| Highest | 1 (2007; 2008, 2009, 2019–2021, 2022, 2023) | ||
| Lowest | 7 (2017; 2018) | ||
| First international | |||
23x15px South Africa 0–4 British Isles  (Cape Town, South Africa; 30 July 1891) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
| File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa 134–3 Template:Ru-rt (East London, South Africa; 11 June 2005) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| (Russian) 57–0 South Africa File:Flag of South Africa.svg (Auckland, New Zealand; 16 September 2017) | |||
| World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 8 (First in 1995) | ||
| Best result | Champions (1995, 2007, 2019, 2023) | ||
| Website | springboks | ||
South Africa has won the Rugby World Cup four times (in 1995, 2007, 2019 and 2023), which is more times than any other country. Even though South Africa has always been an important country for rugby union and rugby union is very popular in the country, South Africa was not allowed to compete in the first two World Cups (in 1987 and 1991) because of Apartheid.
South Africa National Rugby Union Team Media
The South Africa team that played the second test against the British Isles in 1891
- Southafrica rugby team 1906.jpg
The 1906 South Africa rugby union team.
- South Africa rugby union team against New Zealand, 1921.jpg
The Springboks team that faced New Zealand in 1921
- 1937 span 011.jpg
The complete squad that toured New Zealand and Australia in 1937
- Bob Skinstad.jpg
Bobby Skinstad in June 2007
- Percy Montgomery against Samoa.jpg
Percy Montgomery running the ball for the Springboks against Samoa in 2007
- 09-09-07 058.jpg
The Springboks before their 2007 World Cup match against Samoa
- Springboks logo first.png
The first springbok logo was introduced in 1906; this emblem has been regarded as representing apartheid's exclusion politics
- SAF-Rugby-jersey-2002.jpg
2002 South Africa jersey, made by Nike, with springbok emblem on the left side
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