Part I
Annotated Bibliography
Baker, William J. et al. Sport in Africa: Essays in Social History. Holmes & Meier, 1 January 1987
Bull, Andy. “Siya Kolisi’s South Africa understand the ties between team and people.” The Guardian, 29 October 2023, www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/oct/29/siya-kolisis-south-africa-understand-the-ties-between-team-and-people. Accessed 23 February 2024.
The author, Andy Bull, provides an exciting perspective on South Africa’s victory in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Bull speeds the audience through the backstory of the South African rugby team, the Springboks. He then races through the events of the World Cup before arriving at the final match between New Zealand and South Africa. Well-versed in the sport, Bull name drops the names of prominent players and their signature moves. The article is an opinion piece that portrays the Springboks as the well-deserved victors. Thus, there are no other links cited and it is a one-sided publication.
“Catching up with Springboks Player Cheslin Kolbe and wife Layla.” Youtube, uploaded by Expresso Show, 9 November 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=js4aMnk_Tjk&t=331s. Accessed 23 February 2024.
This was a sit-down interview with Cheslin Kolbe and his wife Layla upon returning home after winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup. They are asked a mix of fun and serious questions. Viewers learn about what was going on in Cheslin’s mind during the last few minutes of the final. There is also time at the end for fans to call in and personally ask Cheslin and Layla questions.
Douglas, Savanna. “Meet the wives supporting South Africa’s Springboks.” Woman&Home, 15 October 2023, www.womanandhomemagazine.co.za/entertainment/meet-the-supportive-wives-supporting-south-africas-springboks/. Accessed 23 February 2024.
“Fans rejoice after South Africa beat New Zealand in men’s Rugby World Cup final.” Youtube, uploaded by Guardian Sport, 29 October 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BBQOO5ZCkk. Accessed 23 February 2024.
This series of videos taken across South Africa after the Springboks’ win in the 2024 World Cup showcases the joy and unity that swept the country. Fans of all backgrounds were dancing and laughing together at the joyous occasion. The unity is exhibited through the various clips.
Farquharson, Karen et al. “Transforming the Springboks: Re-imaging the South African Nation through Sport.” Social Dynamics, 11 August 2008, www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02533950308628649. Accessed 26 February 2024.
“‘For the people that need hope’ | Siya Kolisi’s inspirational interview | Rugby World Cup 2023.” Youtube, uploaded by World Rugby, 28 October 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0gzdgc9hNc. Accessed 23 February 2024.
South African rugby team captain Siya Kolisi speaks to the press immediately following the country’s victory in the 2023 World Cup in France. This is an interview in which Kolisi is asked about his perspective on the victory. Kolisi is humble in giving credit to the All Blacks but focuses the bulk of his response on praising the South African people. He outlines that the people were the driving force behind the victory. This interview provides insight into the psyche of the Springboks.
Hamilton, Tom. “Why rugby will never have another player like Siya Kolisi.” ESPN, 30 October 2023, www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/38770747/why-rugby-never-another-player-siya-kolisi. Accessed 23 February 2024.
Henson, Mike. “Rugby World Cup 2023: Jacques Nienaber - how exam failure re-routed South Africa coach.” The BBC, 25 August 2023, www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/66615080. Accessed 23 February 2024.
In this article, Mike Henson provides a brief autobiographical account of Jacques Nienaber, the former head coach of the Springboks. There are quotes from Nienaber throughout the article. There are also quotes from one of best mates and colleagues, Rassie Erasmus, who is currently the interim head coach of the Springboks. The article portrays Nienaber in a very positive light without any criticism of his tactics or his coaching style.
Liew, Jonathan. “Siya Kolisi inspires South Africa to keep finding point of difference.” The Guardian, 28 October 2023, www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2023/oct/29/south-africa-prove-to-be-masters-of-finding-point-of-difference. Accessed 23 February 2024.
Kitson, Robert. “Canan Moodie escaped gang violence to become rugby’s rapidly rising star.” The Guardian, 26 August 2023, www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/aug/26/canan-moodie-escaped-gang-violence-to-become-rugbys-rapidly-rising-star. Accessed 23 February 2024.
Robert Kitson provides an optimistic feature of rising rugby star Canan Moodie. Kitson inserts snippets of quotes from Moodie about his childhood and his disbelief at where he is now. There could be more information regarding his journey to the World Cup as Kitson moves quickly from his childhood to playing for the Springboks. The article ends on a positive note filled with hope for Moodie’s rugby career.
Newboult, Colin. “The ‘Springbok spirit’ won South Africa the World Cup according to expert.” Planet Rugby, 15 February 2024, www.planetrugby.com/news/the-springbok-spirit-won-south-africa-the-world-cup-according-to-expert. Accessed 23 February 2024.
Radford, Antoinette. “South Africa declares public holiday for World Cup win.” The BBC, 30 October 2023, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-67269427. Accessed 23 February 2024
The author, Antoinette Radford, reports that South Africa has declared 15 December to be a public holiday in honor of the Springboks’ victory in the 2023 World Cup. She writes in a clear-cut and direct manner. She cites passages from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech in which he honors the hope and unity that the victory has brought to their country. Radford provides further context behind the significance of the victory, touching on the rolling blackouts and electricity crisis.
Ramsamy, Sam. Apartheid, The Real Hurdle: Sport in South Africa & the International Boycott. International Defence and Aid Fund, 1 January 1982.
Author Sam Ramsamy sheds light on the effects of apartheid on South African sport. Ramsamy was a fierce advocate of sanctioning South Africa’s all-white teams during the apartheid era. This book seeks to shed light on the non-racial sports movement as well as the actions of the South African government against the movement.
Simelane, Nobuhle et al. “South Africa Rugby World Cup: The Springboks give hope to a troubled nation.” The BBC, 29 October 2023, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-67254346. Accessed 23 February 2024.
Authors Nobuhle Simelane & Damian Zane highlight the hope that the Springboks’ victory in France provided for South Africa. They cite quotes from a variety of sources including from Siya Kolisi, the team captain, as well as from South African citizens. All the fans interviewed responded very positively to the victory. There were no indifferent opinions expressed in the article. Further context regarding apartheid and Nelson Mandela is provided to underscore the significance of the victory of the young, multi-racial democracy in the 2023 World Cup.
“Siya Kolisi wants to pioneer change in South Africa | 60 Minutes.” Youtube, uploaded by 60 minutes, 2 October 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mgj-KXBj70. Accessed 23 February 2024.
This video highlights the social impact that Siya Kolisi seeks to generate. Francois Pienaar, the captain of the first rugby team post-apartheid, is interviewed and he has nothing but high praise for Kolisi. The video takes the viewer through Zwide Township where Kolisi grew up and offers a touching perspective on why Kolisi is so intent on giving back to his community. The video briefly touched on the impact that Kolisi is making through his foundation, the Kolisi Foundation, but could have gone more in depth into exactly what his foundation does so that the viewer can have a more tangible understanding.
Sparks, Allister. The Mind of South Africa. Ballantine Books, April 9, 1991.
In this book, author Allister Sparks analyzes the psyche of apartheid South Africa. He dives deep into his nation’s troubled history to understand why and how his country had arrived at the point of apartheid. Beginning from the original Khoisan tribes to Jan van Riebeeck’s landing in the Cape Colony to the First and Second Boer Wars, Sparks traces the history of South Africa to allow the reader to understand the complexity of his country. He also examines the effects of apartheid on both black and white communities. The middle chapters are a little dense and read like a journalistic entry but the beginning and end are strong.
“South Africa’s Etzebeth out for 10 days at Rugby World Cup and a doubt for Ireland.” Associated Press, 11 September 2023, apnews.com/article/rugby-world-cup-south-africa-etzebeth-58790a4266eb55854db4d5a14961807c. Accessed 23 February 2024.
Thompson, Richard. Race and Sport. Oxford University Press, 1964.
“What is pressure? South Africa Rugby Coach Erasmus sums it up!” Youtube, uploaded by Godfidence, 2 November 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R-WNWdbqNI. Accessed 23 February 2024.
Rassie Erasmus speaks at a press conference after the Springboks’ victory at the 2019 World Cup in Japan. He speaks candidly about the struggles his country is facing. Through his answers, the listener gets a clear understanding of how the Springboks approach high stakes competition. Erasmus refers to the socio-economic problems in South Africa to highlight that playing rugby and representing the country is truly a privilege.
Books accessed from Doheny:
Sport in Africa; Apartheid, The Real Hurdle; Race and Sport
Part II
While the sources that I have collected vary in topic, there is one common thread uniting all of them: all support the notion that the Springboks’ victory in the 2023 Rugby World Cup meant something much more than just a sports win. Many articles and interviews referred to South Africa’s complicated history of apartheid as well as its current political and economic woes. Across the board the consensus was clear, that this World Cup win provided a beacon of hope for a troubled country.
South African history is practically synonymous with apartheid, a legal system of segregation entrenched in every aspect of South African society that was implemented between 1948 until the early 1990s. During this period, different schools, neighborhoods, jobs, beaches, and more were created for people of different races. Countless laws existed that restricted the movement of people and diminished opportunities for people of color. For example, Black people were not allowed into white areas unless they had a permit which was signed regularly by their White employers. Apartheid also bled into sport, where Coloured or Black players were forbidden from representing the Springboks, the national rugby team of South Africa.
The repercussions of apartheid are still felt today in South African sport. Rugby is a highly technical sport which requires children to begin playing at a young age; however, only certain schools – mainly private – offer the elite programs necessary to produce international players. However, the deeply unequal schooling system remains a legacy of apartheid, where schools in predominantly Black or Coloured areas received far less funding that those in predominantly White areas. This naturally leads to the fact that there remains unequal access for South African children to play rugby and receive proper coaching.
Given the country’s difficult past and the lingering inequalities that continue to affect millions of South Africans, it is clear that unity is precious. The Springbok team is composed of players from all backgrounds and races, with players who attended posh private schools to players who grew up playing barefoot on thorn-strewn fields in the townships. Every South African could see themselves reflected in one of the players on the field. Throughout the World Cup, team captain Siya Kolisi has continuously highlighted the importance of diversity and leveraging the various strengths of each individual to strengthen the team as a whole. He encourages the South African people that they can do the same and that they too, if they all work together, can achieve great things. I’ve listed several interviews with Kolisi, but in each one, he never fails to thank the people of South Africa for their support. The humility of the Springboks certainly does not go unnoticed.
If I have gathered anything from these sources, it is that the South African people are incredibly tenacious and optimistic. The hope that they have for the country in spite of all that they have been through is truly inspiring. Watching the videos of thousands of South Africans pouring out onto the streets to cheer for the Springboks during their victory parade showcases what the country could be and that underneath the suffering, there is hope for this beautiful, beautiful nation. Current head coach Rassie Erasmus summed it up beautifully, asserting that he did not associate playing in the World Cup as pressure, because to South Africans, pressure is having your neighbor killed or not having food on the table. Thus, playing rugby is a privilege and an honor, and with that privilege comes the responsibility of bringing hope to the country.
After going through many sources about the Springboks’ 2023 victory, I lean towards writing a personal essay or an informational essay. A personal essay would allow me to project my passion for South African rugby and provide me the freedom to weave in different aspects of South African history as well in order to provide the necessary context. On the other hand, an informational essay would be equally exciting as I would approach it from a lens of wanting to share the knowledge that I have gathered about this fascinating topic. An informational essay would likely provide more structure to my writing and lend me a sense of direction whereas a personal essay would require some more brainstorming before beginning to write.
Ultimately, I would like to communicate to a wider audience the story of the Springboks. I have already done so on a smaller scale to interviewers, friends, and family, some of whom are now fans of the Springboks, but I hope to share their story to more people because I believe that their story can move people around the world. I think that they were massively underrated and that their story deserves to be displayed on the biggest platforms in the world.