This past weekend was an eventful one for SA, with the Springbok women’s rugby team winning their last WXV series match against Samoa, the Springboks sealing their fourth Rugby World Cup title and a win from the World Rugby Awards.
The prestigious awards ceremony was held at the Opéra Garnier in Paris on Sunday, just hours after the thrilling Rugby World Cup final showdown and as the winners of the Webb Ellis Cup, the Springboks received V.I.P treatment and seating.
Springboks lock and one of South Africa’s favorites’, Eben Etzebeth was the only player from the team of champions to be honoured during the awards ceremony.
World Player of the Year nominee Etzebeth was one of three Bok representatives up for World Rugby awards, with Jacques Nienaber in the running for Coach of the Year, and flyhalf Manie Libbok in the running for Breakthrough Player of the Year.
"Look at how my hair looks, thanks to RG Snyman at 5 o'clock this morning!"
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) October 29, 2023
Eben Etzebeth was on the receiving end of a dodgy late-night haircut after South Africa's @rugbyworldcup win 😅#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/0xHLhwUsEN
Although Etzebeth did not win in the respective category he was nominated in, he was named in the World Rugby’s Men’s Dream team for 2023, with France and Ireland represented by five players, despite falling out in the quarter finals of the World Cup.
During the ceremony, former Springbok rugby world cup winning captain (2007) John Smith, who was described as an inspirational leader to SA and a lifelong servant to the sport received a special Merit award for his service since retiring.
An inspirational leader to South Africa.
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) October 29, 2023
A lifelong servant to the sport.
John Smit is the recipient of the 2023 @IntRugbyPlayers Special Merit Award#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/GgxKyLoQf5
Meanwhile, former Bok wing, Bryan Habana was inducted into the World Rugby’s Hall of Fame.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said in the last World Cup, the country was hopeful that they will win, however with this World Cup, they were expecting a win.
“We could feel the weight of the nation behind us in a positive way and they were supporting us. The videos and the scenes that we saw back at home were no longer about us, we wanted to play for something far bigger than that and we wanted to give hope to people back home, that their circumstances don’t define who they are,” said Kolisi.
"We wanted to play for something far bigger than us"@Springboks captain Siya Kolisi reflects on their World Cup win at the #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/KzDPc3iSyB
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) October 29, 2023
