- The Springboks’ trophy tour began in Pretoria, with President Cyril Ramaphosa greeting the champions at the Union Buildings.
- Thousands of people are expected to flood the streets of major South African cities in the coming days to celebrate with their national heroes.
- The areas selected for the tour are the country’s five “largest population centres” and satellite tours are planned for other areas in the future.
The Springboks’ trophy tour began at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa greeted the Rugby World Cup champions as they arrived at the seat of government.
In a speech, he praised them for becoming the first team to win four Rugby World Cup trophies when they defeated New Zealand last Saturday.
Springboks fans at the Union Buildings in Pretoria where the team’s trophy tour starts on Thursday.
Fans during a Springboks Welcome Ceremony to the Union Buildings on 2 November 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa. The ceremony to the Union Buildings for the national team signifies the start of the Rugby World Champions National Trophy Tour after the Springboks won the 2023 Rugby World Cup against New Zealand at the finals in Paris.
Gallo Images Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu
“The words ‘Amabokoboko’, ‘Go Bokke’ are being shouted from the rooftops by black and white, young and old, urban and rural dwellers, in all our national languages,” said Ramaphosa.
LIVE | Springboks trophy tour up and running in Pretoria
“Over the past eight weeks this country has been a sea of green and gold. People who haven’t even followed rugby before or been interested in the game are now talking with confidence about scrums, rucks, drop kicks and tries.”
Cyril Ramaphosa and Siya Kolisi during a Springboks Welcome Ceremony to the Union Buildings on 2 November 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa. The ceremony to the Union Buildings for the national team signifies the start of the Rugby World Champions? National Trophy Tour after the Springboks won the 2023 Rugby World Cup against New Zealand at the finals in Paris.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the Springboks.
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The Webb Ellis Trophy will be paraded in the streets of South Africa’s most populated centres.
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In the upcoming days, thousands of people will flood the streets of major South African cities to celebrate with their national heroes.
On Thursday, the Webb Ellis Cup was displayed from an open-top bus to crowds of people in Pretoria. The parade will continue into Johannesburg and Soweto, with Cape Town following on Friday.
Siya Kolisi is one of two captains to lift the Webb Ellis Cup twice.
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Siya Kolisi is one of two captains to lift the Webb Ellis Cup twice.
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Siya Kolisi and teammates during a Springboks Welcome Ceremony to the Union Buildings on 2 November 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa. The ceremony to the Union Buildings for the national team signifies the start of the Rugby World Champions National Trophy Tour after the Springboks won the 2023 Rugby World Cup against New Zealand at the finals in Paris.
Gallo Images Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu
Captain Siya Kolisi
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Stops in Durban and Buffalo City are expected next week. The areas selected for the tour are the country’s five “largest population centres”, according to the South African Rugby Union (SARU).
READ | MAPS: Here’s where you can see the triumphant Springboks on their victory parade
Buffalo City was selected to acknowledge the Eastern Cape’s significance in black rugby’s development, history and future. A Springboks parade in Nelson Mandela Bay is planned for 2024.
Hooker Bongi Mbonambi (L) and Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am (R) react during a welcome ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on November 2, 2023, after South Africa won the France 2023 Rugby World Cup final match against New Zealand.
Full-back Damian Willemse (C), wearing the kit he played the final in, smiles as he walks to the stage during a welcome ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 2 November 2023, after South Africa won the France 2023 Rugby World Cup final match against New Zealand.
Full-back Damian Willemse, wearing the kit he played the final match in, poses for a portrait during a welcome ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 2 November 2023, after South Africa won the France 2023 Rugby World Cup final match against New Zealand.
SARU president Mark Alexander said “satellite tours” to populated areas in the Free State, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape are being planned, and the scheduling will depend on the players’ club commitments.
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