The South African national rugby team, also called the Springboks is a team widely known throughout the world for its skill, ferocity and talent.  They have a good history in the World Cups and are actually the current holders of the competition; beating England 15 - 6 in the final in Paris.  That was their second triumph in the competition.  They now are only one of three teams to win the trophy to times - in 1995 and 2007.

In 1861, a version of football in which playing with the hands was introduced to South Africa by a British headmaster who moved to Cape Town.

These early roots of rugby have developped into a highly charged game, and South Africa frequently gives other teams a literal run for their money, notably in 1995 where despite being listed as 9^th worldwide, they overcame difficulties to win the World Cup they were hosting.