On 23 August 1862, the first rugby match heralded the start of what would become a big sport among White people in South Africa. The first rugby club, Hamilton, was formed in 1875 and was soon followed by the Villagers Club. As the popularity of the sport grew, the Rugby Union Board was formed. After South Africa was banned from international sport, it meant that it could no longer participate in international rugby matches. South Africa was allowed to return to international rugby in 1992, following changes in the country’s political environment.

Rugby is now, along with soccer and cricket, a big sport in South Africa. The national team, the Springboks, has since won the World Cup twice, first in 1995, on their very first competition which they also hosted, and again in 2007. Both the World Cup competitions have helped to further spread the popularity of the sport in Black communities. The sport now boasts a number of local competitions, with the Currie Cup being the premier provincial rugby competition in South Africa.   

The Springboks are also involved in annual competitions with national teams from Australia and New Zealand. This competition, known as the Tri Nations, is second only to the Rugby World Cup in the country’s rugby calendar.      

Bibliography:

1. Morgan, B., 2011. Rugby in South Africafrom South Africa.info [online] Available at www.southafrica.info [Accessed 14 July 2011]

2. Oates, T., 2008. History of South African Sport: V. Rugbyfrom South Africa Rugby [online] Available at www.bleacherreport.com [Accessed 14 July 2011]