The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks, represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. Famed for their unmatched international success, the All Blacks have often been regarded as the most successful sports team in human history.
The 1981 South African rugby tour polarised opinions and inspired widespread protests across New Zealand. The controversy also extended to the United States, where the South African rugby team continued their tour after departing New Zealand.
The South Africa national rugby union team, commonly known as the Springboks, is the country's national team governed by the South African Rugby Union. The Springboks play in green and gold jerseys with white shorts. Their emblem is a native antelope, the Springbok, which is the national animal of South Africa. The team has been representing South Africa in international rugby union since 30 July 1891, when they played their first test match against a British Isles touring team. They are currently the reigning World Champions and have won the World Cup on 3 occasions,. The Springboks are equalled with the All Blacks with 3 World Cup wins.
The Australia national rugby union team, nicknamed the Wallabies, is the representative national team in the sport of rugby union for the nation of Australia. The team first played at Sydney in 1899, winning their first test match against the touring British Isles team.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is a soccer and rugby union stadium in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, It hosted 2010 FIFA World Cup matches and the third place play off. It is the home of Chippa United Football Club and formerly of rugby union team Southern Kings.
Rugby union in South Africa is a highly popular team sport, along with cricket and soccer, and is widely played all over the country. The national team is among the strongest in the world and has been ranked in at least the top seven of the World Rugby Rankings since its inception in 2003. The country hosted and won the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and won again in 2007 and 2019.
Morné du Plessis OIS is a former South African rugby union player often described as one of the Springboks' most successful captains. During the five years from 1975 to 1980 that he served as captain, the Springboks won 13 of 15 matches, giving Du Plessis an 86.66% success rate as captain.
Jon-Paul Roger "JP" Pietersen is a South African rugby union player for the Sharks in the Currie Cup. He generally plays fullback or wing but occasionally, he plays at outside centre. He played in 69 tests for the Springboks.
Errol George Tobias is a former South African rugby union footballer, and the first player of colour to play in a test match for the South African national side. He gained six caps between 1981 and 1984 when the country was still following the policy of apartheid. Tobias's selection paved the way for other black players to be added to the national team: first Avril Williams, and later, Avril's nephew, Chester Williams. Of his 21 games for the Springboks, six were tests.
Heinrich Wilhelm Brüssow is a South African former professional rugby union player. His usual position was as open-side flanker and his most recent club was Northampton Saints in the English Premiership.
Gysbert Johannes Muller, more commonly known as Johann Muller, is a South African former rugby union player. Muller played as a lock for the Sharks, Sharks in and his country's national side Springboks, before he moved to Northern Ireland to play with Ulster in 2010, where became team captain, before retiring at the end of the 2013–2014 season.
Patrick Jonathan Lambie is a retired South African professional rugby union player who last played for Racing 92 in the French Top 14. He announced his retirement in January 2019 due to multiple concussions.
Bjorn Alberic Basson is a South African professional rugby union player playing as a wing or full-back for the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR).
Gideon Johannes Stegmann is a South African professional rugby union player, who most recently played as an openside flank for Honda Heat in the Japanese Top League. He made his Super 14 debut for the Bulls in 2008 at the age of 21.
Coenraad Victor Oosthuizen, nicknamed 'Coenie' or 'Shrek', is a professional rugby union player for Sale Sharks in the English Premiership. He previously represented the Free State Cheetahs and Sharks in the Currie Cup, the Cheetahs and Sharks in Super Rugby and also was chosen for the Springboks squad in 2010, 2011 and 2012, making his test debut in the first test against England in Durban in 2012.
Adriaan Pieter 'André' Esterhuizen is a South African rugby union player for the South Africa national team and Harlequins in the English Premiership. His regular position is centre or full-back.
Thomas Joubert du Toit is a South African rugby union player for the South Africa national team and the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship. His regular position is prop. His nickname is The Tank.
Jesse André Kriel is a South African professional rugby union player for the South Africa national team and Canon Eagles in the Japanese Top League. His regular playing position is as a utility back but can also play centre, wing or fullback. Kriel was part of the national team who won the Rugby World Cup in 2019.
Robert James du Preez is a South African professional rugby union player for English Premiership side Sale Sharks. His regular position is fly-half.
Jean-Luc du Preez (born 5 August 1995 is a South African rugby union player for Sale Sharks in the English Premiership. He made his debut for South Africa in 2016 and his regular position is flanker, although he also plays at lock and number eight.
