Springbok supporters await arrival of their champions

Scores of rejoicing South Africans donning the Springbok colours gain arrived at OR Tambo International Airport to welcome the world champions back home after their victory at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The national side triumphed over Recent Zealand in the final match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup tournament, beating Modern Zealand 12-11 on Saturday to lift the Webb Ellis Cup once more.

The supporters, who acquire braved the cold and rainy weather to procure a glimpse of the team, are in high spirits, singing and dancing. The team will address the nation at a media conference that has been scheduled upon their arrival from France on Tuesday.

Boks head coach Jacques Nienaber, Captain Siya Kolisi and other squad members are expected to attend a media briefing at 12pm.

The team arrives in South Africa on Tuesday (10:55am) and will commence a four-day trophy tour to major regional population centres from Thursday.

The tour has been meticulously planned to convey the team’s appreciation and proudly showcase the trophy as it embarks on another four-year journey in South Africa.

The tour will start in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Soweto – concluding at FNB Stadium – on Thursday, 2 November. It will then continue in Cape Town (Friday, 3 November) and Durban (Saturday, 4 November) before concluding in the Eastern Cape (East London) on Sunday, 5 November.

“The locations acquire been selected for population size in the first three instances and because of the Eastern Cape’s rugby significance in the fourth. Satellite tours to Bloemfontein, Nelson Mandela Bay and other centres will be scheduled for 2024. Such tours following the 2019 victory had to be abandoned because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The route for each tour has been prepared in consultation with the respective local authorities and the South African Police Service,” SA Rugby said on Sunday.

Route maps and timings will be published at www.springboks.rugby, on SA Rugby’s social media channels and by local authorities in due course. – SAnews.gov.za