South Africa national rugby union team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
South Africa

Nickname(s)	Springboks Springbokke Bokke Amabhokobhoko Bokmasjien
Emblem	Springbok
Union	SA Rugby
Head coach	Rassie Erasmus
Captain	Siya Kolisi
Most caps	Victor Matfield (127)
Top scorer	Percy Montgomery (893)
Top try scorer	Bryan Habana (67)
Home stadium	Various
First colours Second colours Third colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	1 (as of 16 October 2023)
Highest	1 (2007–2008; 2009, 2019–2021, 2022, 2023–ongoing)
Lowest	7 (2017; 2018)
First international
South Africa 0–4 British Isles (Cape Town, South Africa; 30 July 1891)
Biggest win
South Africa 134–3 Uruguay  (East London, South Africa; 11 June 2005)
Biggest defeat
New Zealand 57–0 South Africa (Auckland, New Zealand; 16 September 2017)
World Cup
Appearances	8 (First in 1995)
Best result	Champions (1995, 2007, 2019, 2023)

The South Africa national rugby union team, known as the Springboks, is South Africa's national rugby team. They are governed by the South African Rugby Union. The Springboks wear green and gold jerseys with white shorts. Their symbol is the Springbok, a type of antelope and South Africa's national animal.

The team has played international rugby union since July 30, 1891. They played their first test match against a British Isles touring team. The Springboks are currently the top-ranked rugby team in the world. They are also the reigning World Champions, having won the Rugby World Cup a record four times. These wins were in 1995, 2007, 2019, and 2023. South Africa has won half of the World Cups they have played in. They are also the second country to win the World Cup two times in a row (2019 and 2023).

The team first played in the World Cup in 1995. This was when a newly democratic South Africa hosted the tournament. South Africa helped create the World Cup. However, the Springboks could not play in the first two World Cups in 1987 and 1991. This was because of international anti-apartheid sports boycotts.

The Springboks won the 1995 final against the All Blacks 15–12. This victory is remembered as a great moment in South Africa's sports history. It was also a key moment in bringing the nation together after apartheid. People of all backgrounds united to watch their team play.

South Africa won the World Cup again 12 years later. They beat England 15–6 in the 2007 final. After this win, the Springboks became first in the IRB World Rankings. They held this spot until July of the next year. The team was named 2008 World Team of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards.

The Springboks won their third World Cup title in 2019. They defeated England 32–12. They were named 2020 World Team of the Year for the second time. They then won their fourth World Cup title in 2023.

The Springboks also play in the yearly Rugby Championship. This tournament used to be called the Tri-Nations. They compete against Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand. They have won the Championship four times. They are the only team to win both the Championship and the World Cup in the same year.

Rugby union is very popular in South Africa. It often attracts the country's best athletes. For almost 100 years, South Africans have supported the Springboks. The team's success has become a symbol of national pride. Many people who don't follow rugby still recognize this. Sixteen former Springboks and important South Africans are in the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

Team History

Early Days: 1891–1913

The first British Isles tour happened in 1891. These were the first official games played by South African teams. The British team won all 20 of their matches.

South Africa's play got much better by the 1896 tour. They won their first test match in the final game. In 1903, the British Isles lost a series in South Africa for the first time. Rugby became very popular because of these early tours. South Africa did not lose another series until 1956.

The first South African team to tour the British Isles and France was in 1906–07. They played against all four Home Nations (England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales). England drew with them, but Scotland was the only Home Nation to win. This trip made South Africans feel very proud of their country. It was during this tour that the nickname Springboks was first used.

The 1910 British Isles tour of South Africa was the first to include players from all four Home Nations. The British team won only one of their three test matches. The Springboks' second European tour was in 1912–13. They beat all four Home Nations to win their first Grand Slam. They also defeated France.

Between the World Wars

By the first World War, New Zealand and South Africa were the two strongest rugby teams. A Springbok tour to New Zealand and Australia in 1921 was called "The World Championship of Rugby." The All Blacks won the first game, but the Springboks won the second. The final game was a draw, so the series ended in a tie.

The 1924 British Lions team lost three of four test matches to the Springboks. This was the first time the British team was called the Lions. The All Blacks first toured South Africa in 1928. That series also ended in a tie.

In 1937, South Africa toured New Zealand and Australia. Their 2–1 series win made people call them "the best team to ever leave New Zealand."

After World War II

Danie Craven became coach in 1949. He started by winning ten matches in a row. This included a 4–0 win over New Zealand on their 1949 tour to South Africa.

The 1951–52 team that toured Europe was thought to be one of the best Springbok teams ever. They won the Grand Slam and also defeated France. The team lost only one of 31 matches.

In 1956, the Springboks toured Australia and New Zealand. The All Blacks won their first series against the Springboks. This was called "the most bitterly fought series in history."

Anti-Apartheid Protests: 1960s–1970s

In the 1960s, more and more people around the world criticized apartheid. The Springboks became a target for international protests. The All Blacks toured South Africa in 1960, even though many people signed a petition against it. The Springboks won that series. Later that year, the Springboks toured Europe. They beat all four Home Unions for their fourth Grand Slam.

The planned 1967 tour by the All Blacks was canceled. This was because the South African government would not allow Maori players. In 1969–70, the Springbok tour to the UK and Ireland faced large anti-apartheid protests. Some matches had to be played behind barbed wire fences.

In 1970, the All Blacks toured South Africa again. This happened after the South African government agreed to treat Maori players and fans as 'honorary whites'. The Springboks won the series.

In the Springbok tour of Australia in 1971, the Springboks won all three test matches. But like in Britain, there were huge anti-apartheid protests. The team had to be flown by the Royal Australian Air Force. This was because trade unions refused to help transport them. A planned tour of New Zealand in 1973 was stopped by the New Zealand Prime Minister. He said it was for public safety.

The Lions team that toured South Africa in 1974 won the test series. This tour was known for the Lions' '99 call'. The Lions decided to fight back against the Springboks' physical play. When '99' was called, each Lions player would attack the closest opponent. The "battle of Boet Erasmus Stadium" was one of the most violent rugby matches ever.

Sporting Isolation: 1970s–1980s

The 1976 All Blacks tour of South Africa happened. The Springboks won the series. However, this tour caused international criticism. Twenty-eight countries boycotted the 1976 Summer Olympics in protest. In 1977, the Gleneagles Agreement discouraged sports contact with South Africa. Because of this pressure, the separate South African rugby unions joined together in 1977.

From 1985 to 1991, South Africa did not play any test matches against major countries. This was due to the isolation caused by apartheid. In 1985, a planned All Black tour of South Africa was stopped. A rebel tour happened the next year by a team called the Cavaliers. The Springboks won that series. In 1989, a World XV team played a mini-tour of South Africa. South Africa was not allowed to play in the first 1987 Rugby World Cup or the 1991 Rugby World Cup.

The Rainbow Nation and 1995 World Cup

Apartheid ended in 1990–91. The Springboks were allowed back into international rugby in 1992. They struggled at first. In the 1992 All Blacks tour, the Springboks lost to New Zealand. They also lost to Australia the next month.

South Africa hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup. There was a huge wave of support for the Springboks. The slogan was "one team, one country." This was the first big international sports event in the Rainbow Nation. The Springboks, coached by Kitch Christie, were ranked ninth. They won their pool by beating Australia, Romania, and Canada. They then won against Western Samoa and France to reach the final.

South Africa won the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final against the All Blacks 15–12 in extra time. President Nelson Mandela, wearing a Springbok shirt, gave the trophy to captain Francois Pienaar. This moment was seen as a big step towards bringing white and black South Africans together.

After 1995, the team faced some challenges. Coach Kitch Christie resigned in 1996 due to illness. The Springboks struggled in the new Tri-Nations competition. The All Blacks won a test series in South Africa for the first time in 1996. The Lions also won their 1997 South African tour.

In 1997, coach Nick Mallett led South Africa on an unbeaten tour of Europe. In 1998, the Springboks set a record. They won 17 test matches in a row, including the 1998 Tri-Nations. At the 1999 Rugby World Cup, the Springboks reached the semi-finals. They lost to Australia, who went on to win the cup.

In 2002 and 2003, the Springboks lost by record scores to England, France, Scotland, and New Zealand. At the 2003 Rugby World Cup, they were knocked out in the quarter-finals. This was their worst performance at that time.

After wins in 2004, the Springboks won the 2004 Tri Nations Series. They also won the 2004 IRB International Team of the Year award.

2007 Rugby World Cup Victory

At the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, the Springboks won their group. They then beat Fiji in the quarter-finals and Argentina in the semi-finals. In the final, they won 15–6 against England. This meant they lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for the second time.

In January 2008, Peter de Villiers became the first non-white coach of the Springboks. The 2009 season was more successful. The Springboks won a series against the Lions. They then won the 2009 Tri Nations Series. The Springboks were named IRB International Team of the Year.

The Springboks did not play well in the 2010 Tri Nations. At the 2011 Rugby World Cup, they won their group. However, they lost to Australia 9–11 in the quarter-finals.

Recent Success: Erasmus and Kolisi Era

In February 2018, Rassie Erasmus became the head coach. He immediately chose Siya Kolisi as the new Springbok captain. This was a very important decision.

In his first match, Erasmus gave 13 new players their first chance to play. South Africa won a thrilling game against New Zealand in Wellington in 2018. This was South Africa's first win in New Zealand since 2009.

2019 Rugby World Cup

The Springboks won the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. They beat England 32–12 in the final. This was the first time a Black South African rugby captain, Siya Kolisi, lifted the Webb Ellis Cup. Kolisi gave South African president Cyril Ramaphosa the number 6 jersey. This was to honor Nelson Mandela, who wore the same jersey in 1995.

This final match was a rematch of the 2007 Rugby World Cup final. This win made South Africa champions for the third time. They tied with the All Blacks for the most Rugby World Cup wins.

COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Springbok matches were canceled or postponed. In August 2020, South Africa pulled out of the Rugby Championship. This was due to concerns about player safety. In July 2021, the Springboks returned to international rugby.

2023 Rugby World Cup

The Springboks had a tough group in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. They lost a close game to Ireland. But they won their other group matches.

The Bomb Squad: The Springboks were very strong in the scrums. They used a group of fresh players called the "Bomb Squad" in the later parts of matches. This often changed the game.

The Springboks played great defense throughout the tournament. They gave away very few penalties. Their tackling was excellent. This strong defense was key to their success.

The Springboks won three dramatic games by just one point in the 2023 World Cup:

• Quarter Final vs France: They beat the host nation 29–28 in a very close game.
• Semi Final vs England: They fought hard against England. The score changed many times. The Springboks won 16–15 with a penalty kick at the very end.
• Final vs New Zealand: This was a thrilling 80-minute game. The All Blacks had a player sent off early. Even with one less player, New Zealand played strong defense. But the Springboks won a narrow victory, 12–11.

The 2023 Springboks showed great unity. Their team had players from many different backgrounds. They came together under the idea of "Together in One Nation, One Team."

The Springboks won their fourth Rugby World Cup. This made them the first country to win four titles. It was also their second win in a row. Having played only 8 tournaments, South Africa has won 50% of the World Cups they have entered.

Team Look: Crest, Colours, and Jersey

Team Name and Emblem

The Springbok emblem was first used by Paul Roos's team in 1906–07. This was to stop the British press from giving the team their own name. At that time, the emblem helped unite white English and Afrikaans-speaking players. This was after the Anglo-Boer Wars. The Springbok was briefly used by the first non-white national rugby teams in 1939 and 1950. But it soon became linked only with segregated sports during apartheid.

From 1906, South African rugby officials and the national team were linked to racism. The Springbok emblem showed that non-white players were excluded under apartheid. It became a symbol of apartheid itself. Early Springboks refused to play against a team that had Jimmy Peters, the first black player for England.

After apartheid ended, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) wanted to replace the Springbok emblem. They wanted a new symbol that showed a break from the past. The King Protea, South Africa's national flower, was chosen. For example, the national cricket team was named the Proteas. A similar change was planned for the rugby team. So, from 1992, the rugby jersey had a King Protea next to the Springbok.

As shown in the movie Invictus, there was pressure to remove the Springbok emblem before the 1995 Rugby World Cup. However, Nelson Mandela, who loved the Springbok rugby team, stepped in. He convinced the ANC to keep the emblem. After the team won the 1995 World Cup, black rugby pioneer Dan Qeqe said, "The Springboks play for all of us."

In 2004, the South African Sports Commission decided that the Protea would be the official rugby emblem on blazers and caps. But the Springbok could stay on the team jersey. South African Rugby (SARU) has not officially changed the emblem. Instead, they have worked to make sure the emblem represents unity for everyone.

Jersey Colours

South Africa plays in green jerseys with a gold collar and trim. They wear white shorts and green socks. The jersey has the SA Rugby logo on the left chest and the springbok logo on the right chest.

The first shirt worn by South Africa was navy blue in 1891. The green jersey was first used in 1903. This was when the British Isles toured South Africa. South Africa wore a green jersey for the first time in their final test.

On their first tour to Great Britain and Ireland in 1906–07, South Africa wore a green jersey with a white collar. They had blue shorts and blue socks.

When Australia first toured South Africa in 1933, they wore sky blue jerseys. This was to avoid confusion, as both teams wore dark green. In 1953, the Springboks wore white jerseys for the test matches. In 1961, Australia changed their jersey to gold to avoid color clashes.

Traditionally, South Africa's away uniform was a white shirt, black shorts, and socks. In 2002, South Africa became the first team to have player names on the back of their jerseys. In 2006, a replica of the first jersey was worn to celebrate 100 years of the Springbok rugby team.

In 2008, the SARU decided to put the protea on the left side of the jersey. The springbok moved to the right side. This new jersey was first worn during the British & Irish Lions' 2009 tour.

For the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the springbok was moved from the front of the jersey to the right sleeve. This was due to World Cup rules. Many South African fans were upset about this change.

In 2017, the Springboks wore a red jersey in Argentina. This was part of a promotion where the team wore jerseys in all the colors of the South African flag.

Home Grounds

The Springboks do not use just one stadium as their home. They play at many different venues across South Africa.

The first South African international game was in 1891. It took place at Port Elizabeth's Crusader Grounds. This field is also known as St George's Park Cricket Ground.

Main Stadiums

Venue	City	Capacity
Ellis Park Stadium	Johannesburg	62,500
Loftus Versfeld Stadium	Pretoria	51,700
Kings Park Stadium	Durban	52,000
Free State Stadium	Bloemfontein	46,000
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium	Gqeberha	46,000
Cape Town Stadium	Cape Town	55,000

The 62,500-seat Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg was the main venue for the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The Springboks beat the All Blacks there in the final. Experts say the Springboks have an advantage when playing at high altitude on the Highveld. Games at Ellis Park, Loftus Versfeld, or Vodacom Park can be physically tough for visiting teams. The ball also travels further when kicked.

Team Records

Individual Records

South Africa's player with the most games played is Victor Matfield with 127 caps. The player with the most games in the backline is Bryan Habana. Percy Montgomery holds the South African record for Test points with 893.

John Smit was the world's most-capped captain. He captained South Africa in 83 of his 111 Tests. Smit also played a record 46 games in a row for South Africa.

The player with the most tries scored is Bryan Habana with 67 tries.

Longest Winning Streak

The South African Springboks' longest winning streak is 17 games in a row. They achieved this between August 1997 and December 1998. This record was set under coach Nick Mallett and captain Gary Teichmann. During this time, the Springboks scored more than 50 points five times. They also beat Wales 96-13. They defeated France, Australia, England, Ireland, New Zealand, and Scotland multiple times.

World Rankings

Men's World Rugby Rankings
Top 20 rankings as of 12 July, 2021
Rank	Change*	Team	Points
1		South Africa	094.20
2		New Zealand	088.95
3		England	085.44
4		Ireland	084.85
5	2	Australia	083.90
6	1	France	083.45
7	1	Wales	082.82
8		Scotland	082.02
9		Argentina	080.92
10		Japan	079.13
11		Fiji	076.87
12		Georgia	073.73
13	1	Samoa	071.88
14	1	Italy	070.65
15	2	Tonga	070.28
16		United States	068.10
17		Uruguay	067.02
18		Romania	066.22
19		Spain	064.82
20	1	Portugal	063.90
21	1	Russia	062.71
22		Hong Kong	061.23
23		Canada	061.11
24		Netherlands	059.30
25		Namibia	059.04
26		Brazil	056.32
27		Belgium	056.16
28	1	Chile	055.20
28	1	Switzerland	054.12
30		Germany	053.13
*Change from the previous week
South Africa's historical rankings
Source: World Rugby - Graph updated to 19 July 2021

South Africa is one of the most successful rugby union teams ever. When the ranking system started in October 2003, South Africa was ranked sixth. Their ranking changed until they won the 2007 Rugby World Cup. This briefly sent them to the top of the rankings.

The South African Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks have held the number 1 ranking for most of the time since 2003. The Springboks are the only team to have won the Rugby World Cup a record four times. They won in 1995, 2007, 2019, and 2023. The Springboks currently have a winning record against all nations except for the New Zealand All Blacks.

Major Tournaments

Rugby Championship

The Springboks' main yearly tournament is The Rugby Championship. It used to be called the Tri-Nations. It includes Australia and New Zealand since 1996. Argentina joined in 2012. The Springboks have won the tournament four times. South Africa also plays for the Mandela Challenge Plate with Australia. They play for the Freedom Cup with New Zealand.

Rugby World Cup

Rugby World Cup record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	Squad	Head coach
1987	Barred from competing at tournament due to international sporting boycott during Apartheid
1991
1995	Champions	6	6	0	0	144	67	Squad	K. Christie
1999	Third Place	6	5	0	1	219	101	Squad	N. Mallett
2003	Quarter-finals	5	3	0	2	193	89	Squad	R. Straeuli
2007	Champions	7	7	0	0	278	86	Squad	J. White
2011	Quarter-finals	5	4	0	1	175	35	Squad	P. de Villiers
2015	Third Place	7	5	0	2	241	108	Squad	H. Meyer
2019	Champions	7	6	0	1	262	67	Squad	R. Erasmus
2023	Champions	7	6	0	1	208	88	Squad	J. Nienaber
2027	To be determined
2031
Total	Champions (4)	50	42	0	8	1720	641	—	—
Champions       Runners-up       Third place       Fourth place Home venue

The Springboks did not play in the 1987 and 1991 World Cups. This was because of the sports boycott against them due to apartheid.

South Africa first played in the World Cup as hosts in 1995. They beat the defending champions Australia in the first match. They then beat the All Blacks 15–12 in extra time in the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final. Joel Stransky scored a drop goal from 40 meters to win it.

In 1999, South Africa lost their first World Cup game. They were defeated by Australia in the semi-final. They then beat the All Blacks for third place.

Their worst World Cup performance was in 2003. They lost a group game to England. Then they were knocked out by the All Blacks in the quarter-finals.

In 2007, the Springboks beat Fiji in the quarter-finals. They then beat Argentina in the semi-finals. They defeated England in the Grand Final 15–6 to win the tournament for the second time.

In 2011, the Springboks lost to Australia 9–11 in the quarter-finals. This was after winning all their group games.

In the 2015 World Cup, South Africa lost to Japan in their first game. This was a big upset in rugby history. They reached the semi-finals but lost to the All Blacks 20–18.

In the 2019 RWC, the Springboks lost their first group game against the All Blacks. But they won the rest of their group matches. They then beat Japan in the quarter-finals. They beat Wales in the semi-finals. Finally, they beat England 32–12 in the Grand Final to become World Champions. South Africa became the second country to win the Rugby World Cup three times.

The Springboks won the 2023 Rugby World Cup. They defeated New Zealand 12-11 in the final in Paris on October 28, 2023. This was South Africa's fourth World Cup title. It was also their second win in a row.

Main Rivalries

Springboks vs All Blacks

South Africa and New Zealand have a long history of playing against each other. Their matches go back over 100 years. This rivalry is a big part of both countries' rugby cultures. Fans and players always look forward to these games. The All Blacks are the only team the Springboks have a losing record against.

This rivalry is special for many reasons. Both countries produce some of the best rugby players in the world. Their teams are known for being skilled, strong, and intense. Both teams want to be the best in the world.

A game between South Africa and New Zealand is always a big event in the rugby world. Both teams are known for their physical play, skill, and strong competition.

Haka

The Kapa o Pango haka was first performed in 2005. South Africa was the first team to face it before a match in New Zealand. This was chosen on purpose because of the strong rivalry between the All Blacks and the Springboks.

In 2006, the Springboks became one of the first teams to beat the All Blacks after they performed the "Kapa o Pango" haka. The score was 21–20.

The Springboks have won against the All Blacks seven times when the "Kapa o Pango" haka was performed. This is more than any other rugby team.

Springboks vs England

South Africa and England first played each other in 1903. The rivalry between these teams has grown because they have played in two Rugby World Cup finals. The Springboks won both of these finals, in 2007 and 2019. In the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the Springboks played England in the semi-final. The Springboks won 16–15. This added more to the rivalry between the two rugby nations.

Players

Selection Policy

The Strategic Transformation Development Plan 2030 (STDP 2030) guides South African sports. It aims to make sports fair and open to everyone. It also wants teams to represent the country's diverse population. For example, the goal is for 60% of players to be from Black (black African, Coloured, and Indian) backgrounds. This is a step towards having teams that match the national population.

Famous Players in the Hall of Fame

Thirteen former South African international players are in the International Rugby Hall of Fame or the World Rugby Hall of Fame. These include:

• Fairy Heatlie (1896–1903)
• Bennie Osler (1924–1933)
• Danie Craven (1931–1938)
• Hennie Muller (1949–1953)
• Frik du Preez (1961–1971)
• Morné du Plessis (1971–1980)
• Naas Botha (1980–1992)
• Danie Gerber (1980–1992)
• Francois Pienaar (1993–1996)
• Joost van der Westhuizen (1993–2003)
• Os du Randt (1994–2007)
• John Smit (2000–2011) - He captained the Springboks 83 times, a record.
• Bryan Habana (2004–2016) - He is second in all-time test tries with 67.

Other important people in the World Rugby Hall of Fame are:

• Kitch Christie, coach of the 1995 World Cup-winning team.
• Jake White, coach of the 2007 World Cup-winning team.
• Nelson Mandela for his big impact on the sport.

Award Winners

Some South Africa players have won awards at the World Rugby Awards since 2001:

• Schalk Burger won World Rugby Player of the Year in 2004.
• Bryan Habana won World Rugby Player of the Year in 2007.
• Pieter-Steph du Toit won World Rugby Player of the Year in 2019.
• Aphiwe Dyantyi won World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2018.
• Jaque Fourie won World Rugby Try of the Year in 2009.
• Bryan Habana won World Rugby Try of the Year in 2012.
• Francois Hougaard won World Rugby Try of the Year in 2014.

Current Squad

On June 25, Head Coach Rassie Erasmus named a 39-player squad for their upcoming test series. They will play matches against Ireland and Portugal.

• Caps Updated: 20 July 2024 (after game v Portugal)

Head Coach: Rassie Erasmus

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Grobbelaar, JohanJohan Grobbelaar	Hooker	(1997-12-30) 30 December 1997 (age 27)	1	Bulls
Marx, MalcolmMalcolm Marx	Hooker	(1994-07-13) 13 July 1994 (age 30)	67	Kubota Spears
Mbonambi, BongiBongi Mbonambi	Hooker	(1991-01-07) 7 January 1991 (age 34)	71	Sharks
Venter, Andre-HugoAndre-Hugo Venter	Hooker	(2001-09-10) 10 September 2001 (age 23)	1	Stormers
Wessels, Jan-HendrikJan-Hendrik Wessels	Hooker	(2001-05-08) 8 May 2001 (age 24)	1	Bulls
du Toit, ThomasThomas du Toit	Prop	(1995-05-03) 3 May 1995 (age 30)	19	Bath
Koch, VincentVincent Koch	Prop	(1990-03-13) 13 March 1990 (age 35)	52	Sharks
Malherbe, FransFrans Malherbe	Prop	(1991-03-14) 14 March 1991 (age 34)	72	Stormers
Mchunu, NtuthukoNtuthuko Mchunu	Prop	(1999-04-05) 5 April 1999 (age 26)	3	Sharks
Nché, OxOx Nché	Prop	(1995-07-23) 23 July 1995 (age 29)	31	Sharks
Nyakane, TrevorTrevor Nyakane	Prop	(1989-05-04) 4 May 1989 (age 36)	68	Racing 92
Steenekamp, GerhardGerhard Steenekamp	Prop	(1997-04-09) 9 April 1997 (age 28)	3	Bulls
Dixon, Ben-JasonBen-Jason Dixon	Lock	(1998-04-29) 29 April 1998 (age 27)	2	Stormers
Etzebeth, EbenEben Etzebeth	Lock	(1991-10-29) 29 October 1991 (age 33)	122	Sharks
Moerat, SalmaanSalmaan Moerat	Lock	(1998-03-06) 6 March 1998 (age 27)	6	Stormers
Mostert, FrancoFranco Mostert	Lock	(1990-11-27) 27 November 1990 (age 34)	76	Mie Honda Heat
Snyman, RGRG Snyman	Lock	(1995-01-29) 29 January 1995 (age 30)	37	Leinster
Venter, RuanRuan Venter	Lock	(2002-11-29) 29 November 2002 (age 22)	1	Lions
Buthelezi, PhepsiPhepsi Buthelezi	Loose forward	(1999-05-30) 30 May 1999 (age 26)	1	Sharks
du Toit, Pieter-StephPieter-Steph du Toit	Loose forward	(1992-08-20) 20 August 1992 (age 32)	79	Toyota Verblitz
Kolisi, SiyaSiya Kolisi (c)	Loose forward	(1991-06-16) 16 June 1991 (age 34)	85	Racing 92
Louw, ElrighElrigh Louw	Loose forward	(1999-09-20) 20 September 1999 (age 25)	4	Bulls
Roos, EvanEvan Roos	Loose forward	(2000-01-21) 21 January 2000 (age 25)	7	Stormers
Smith, KwaggaKwagga Smith	Loose forward	(1993-06-11) 11 June 1993 (age 32)	43	Shizuoka Blue Revs
van Staden, MarcoMarco van Staden	Loose forward	(1995-08-25) 25 August 1995 (age 29)	20	Bulls
Wiese, JasperJasper Wiese	Loose forward	(1995-10-21) 21 October 1995 (age 29)	27	[[|Urayasu D-Rocks]]
de Klerk, FafFaf de Klerk	Scrum-half	(1991-10-19) 19 October 1991 (age 33)	58	Yokohama Canon Eagles
Reinach, CobusCobus Reinach	Scrum-half	(1990-02-07) 7 February 1990 (age 35)	33	Montpellier
van den Berg, MornéMorné van den Berg	Scrum-half	(1997-10-24) 24 October 1997 (age 27)	1	Lions
Williams, GrantGrant Williams	Scrum-half	(1996-07-02) 2 July 1996 (age 28)	11	Sharks
Feinberg-Mngomezulu, SachaSacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu	Fly-half	(2002-02-22) 22 February 2002 (age 23)	4	Stormers
Libbok, ManieManie Libbok	Fly-half	(1997-07-15) 15 July 1997 (age 27)	15	Stormers
Pollard, HandréHandré Pollard	Fly-half	(1994-03-11) 11 March 1994 (age 31)	71	Leicester Tigers
Am, LukhanyoLukhanyo Am	Centre	(1993-11-28) 28 November 1993 (age 31)	36	Sharks
de Allende, DamianDamian de Allende	Centre	(1991-11-25) 25 November 1991 (age 33)	81	Saitama Wild Knights
Esterhuizen, AndréAndré Esterhuizen	Centre	(1994-03-30) 30 March 1994 (age 31)	18	Sharks
Kriel, JesseJesse Kriel	Centre	(1994-02-15) 15 February 1994 (age 31)	71	Yokohama Canon Eagles
Arendse, Kurt-LeeKurt-Lee Arendse	Wing	(1996-06-17) 17 June 1996 (age 29)	18	Bulls
Kolbe, CheslinCheslin Kolbe	Wing	(1993-10-28) 28 October 1993 (age 31)	33	Suntory Sungoliath
Mapimpi, MakazoleMakazole Mapimpi	Wing	(1990-07-26) 26 July 1990 (age 34)	43	Sharks
van der Merwe, EdwillEdwill van der Merwe	Wing	(1996-04-12) 12 April 1996 (age 29)	1	Lions
Fassi, ApheleleAphelele Fassi	Fullback	(1998-01-23) 23 January 1998 (age 27)	4	Sharks
Horn, QuanQuan Horn	Fullback	(2001-06-27) 27 June 2001 (age 23)	1	Lions
le Roux, WillieWillie le Roux	Fullback	(1989-08-18) 18 August 1989 (age 35)	95	Bulls

Coaches

Current Coaching Staff

The current coaching staff of the South African national team was announced on February 6, 2024:

Coaches	Position
Rassie Erasmus	Director of Rugby
Jerry Flannery	Defence Coach
Tony Brown	Attack Coach
Deon Davids	Forwards Coach
Mzwandile Stick	Backs Coach
Duane Vermeulen	Assistant Coach
Daan Human	Scrum Consultant
Jaco Peyper	Laws Adviser

Former Coaches

The role of the South Africa coach has changed a lot over time. The table below lists coaches since the 1949 All Blacks tour. Both World Cup-winning coaches, Christie and White, were added to the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011.

Name	Years	Tests	Won	Drew	Lost	Win Percent	Achievements
Danie Craven	1949–1956	23	17	0	6	73%	New Zealand series win 1949
Boy Louw	1960, 1961, 1965	9	6	1	2	67%	Australia series win 1961
Izak Van Heerden	1962	4	3	0	1	75%	British and Irish Lions series win 1962
Johan Claassen	1964, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974	21	13	3	6	62%	British and Irish Lions series win 1968; New Zealand series win 1970
Hennie Muller	1960, 1961, 1963, 1965	16	7	1	8	44%	New Zealand series win 1960
Ian Kirkpatrick	1967, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977	12	9	1	2	75%	New Zealand series win 1976
Nelie Smith	1980–1981	15	12	0	3	80%	British and Irish Lions series win 1980
Cecil Moss	1982–1989	12	10	0	2	83%	NZ Cavaliers series win 1986
Kitch Christie	1994–1995	14	14	0	0	100%	Rugby World Cup winner 1995
Nick Mallett	1997–2000	38	27	0	11	71%	World record equal longest unbeaten run (17 Games) 1997–1998; Tri-Nations winner 1998
Jake White	2004–2007	54	36	1	17	66%	Tri-Nations winner 2004; Rugby World Cup winner 2007
Peter de Villiers	2008–2011	48	30	0	18	62%	Tri-Nations winner 2009; British and Irish Lions series win 2009
Heyneke Meyer	2012–2015	48	32	2	14	66%	Rugby World Cup 3rd Place 2015
Allister Coetzee	2016–2017	25	11	2	12	44%	Ireland series win 2016
Rassie Erasmus	2018–2019	26	17	1	8	65%	Rugby Championship winner 2019; Rugby World Cup winner 2019
Jacques Nienaber	2020–2023	39	27	0	12	69%	British and Irish Lions series win 2021; Rugby World Cup winner 2023
Rassie Erasmus	2024–	4	3	0	1	75%	Ireland series draw 2024

Images for kids

• 

  The complete squad that toured New Zealand and Australia in 1937.

See also