South Africa’s National Rugby Team, the Springboks, have in the headlines non-stop since they won their world cup championship title. Another headline swept over the African Continent when it was announced that Siya Kolisi, the Springboks Captain, become the Most Popular Rugby Player in the league. This announcement was made after the Human Science Research Council admitted a four-day analysis over the 2019 Rugby World Cup’s top players. It’s estimated that more than several thousand individuals were surveyed over who their favourite player of the championship was, with the overwhelming majority selecting Siya Kolisi. He received 49% of the vote, which is 29% higher than any of the other top players mentioned in the survey.
The other top players that were listed on the HSRC Survey was Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi and Tendai Mtawarira. These players only received 8% to 14% of the votes made by several thousand South Africans. The survey also asked how South Africans felt about the championship, with 65% saying they were happy with the results and the remaining 35% determining they are proud with the Springboks Championship Results. However, viewership for the Rugby World Championship this year was down in South Africa. It’s estimated that roughly 40% of South Africans watched the events transpire on live television.
The Championship Parade
Earlier this month, history was made in South Africa when the Springboks defeated England’s national rugby team. South Africa’s National Team came out on top with 32 points, as compared to England’s 12 points. This is the first time the team has won a championship in twelve years, with the team immediately having a national tour in cities like Johannesburg. This extended to Cape Town, East London, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Soweto and Pretoria.
Thousands of individuals from South Africa joined the parade route to see their favourite stars lift the Web Ellis Trophy high above the crowds. Schools and businesses shut down for their respective dates, allowing for children and parents to participate in the festivities. The popularity of their championship win was so evident that Archbishop Desmond Tutu held a ceremony in their honour, noting that this moment shouldn’t be taken lightly by South Africa. He mentioned that the country could not bask in their national teams’ glory, but instead use their momentum for real insight towards building a more powerful nation. The Parade ended on November 13th with fireworks, drinks and dancing in the streets.
